He had evidently been watching me from his place of concealment, but had not recognized me in my rough clothes. Going into the kitchen it appeared as empty as before, but I finally discovered the frightened old negro curled up on top of a wide set of shelves behind a barricade of cooking utensils, taking a reconnoissance from the ventilator just above. "Come down, Ned," I called, but he made no sign of having heard. It was some time before I could convince him who I was, but as soon as he could get his scattered wits together his delight was unbounded, and he came down from his elevated perch to an accompaniment of rattling tinware. I soon learned that when my aunt found she would be detained indefinitely, she had sent back word for all the servants to go to a neighboring plantation, which they had all done with the exception of Ned, who had staid behind intending to make his way to me and beg me to keep him for my body servant, an office he had always desired. While Ned prepared and served me with a breakfast, which I insisted on taking in the kitchen, he gave me the family news and told me all about the death of his wife, which had occurred a few weeks before. After I had finished my meal and Ned had fed my horse, he brought out the keys from their place of concealment, and if I would have permitted him to do so, would have thrown open the whole house in my honor. Much to his disappointment, I dared not allow him to unclose a single shutter or even turn the slats, except at the back of the house. I explained to him that it must still present a closed appearance to any chance observer, and that no one must know that I was there. We entered the house and proceeded through the long, dusky hall and up the wide stairs to the second story. After Ned had gathered everything necessary to my comfort into the room which I occupied whenever I was at S----, and which was always left undisturbed in my absence, he left me. CHAPTER VII. Weary as I was I yet had something to do before I could take the needed rest, which every atom in my jaded frame was loudly demanding. The time had come to test the feasibility of the plan which had flashed into my mind as I sat in General Foster's tent, and which I had thought over and elaborated along the way. When the idea first entered my head that I could personate my cousin Salome, enter the enemy's lines, meet her Rebel lover, and from him learn what the enemy were going to do, and by my own eyes determine the strength and position of their forces, I had only thought what a huge joke it would be. Had General Foster returned at once the idea might have died without further growth, but in the time of waiting I had idly thought over and over how easily it could be done, and planned this and that detail until finally the project seized a firm hold of me, and I had determined, hazardous as it was, to attempt it.