“Where are you from?” “We came from up the river. We have been robbed by the rebels of everything we had: some of the Unionists have been murdered; and we want to get inside the Union lines.” “Where are your families?” demanded Captain Bankhead. “We had to leave them; but the rebels don’t meddle with the women and children. We haven’t had anything to eat for two days.” The bow of the Middy was run up to the shore: but the captain seemed to have some doubts in regard to the party; for a portion of them were armed with guns, pistols, and other weapons. He questioned them still further in regard to their antecedents, and finally permitted them to come on board; taking the precaution to disarm them as they passed the gang-plank. They were provided with food, of which they partook with ravenous appetites. Their clothing was in a very dilapidated condition; and their appearance certainly confirmed their story, that they had suffered every imaginable hardship. Many of them proposed at once to enlist in the Union army, or enter the navy, as the captain might elect. They professed to be very anxious to avenge the indignities to which they had been subjected, and desired to join any force which should have for its object the subjugation of their State. The man who had spoken for them was an intelligent and gentlemanly person; but the majority of the party were coarse and rude in their manners, belonging to the lowest stratum of Western society. “I say, Jack, my dear, I don’t like the looks of them bloody vill’ns on the main-deck,” said Tom Longstone in a low tone when he came up to relieve the wheel at dinner-time. “Why not?” “Stop my grub if I don’t believe they are rebels at heart, Jack!” “What makes you think so?” “I don’t like the looks of them. The sharks would dodge such a crowd!” “They have seen hard times.” “I don’t mind their dress, Jack; but they look ugly about the eyes.” “Is that all you have against them?” “No; shiver my timbers if it is. I seen ’em whispering together more’n decent men ought to.” Jack went down to his dinner; and, being off duty afterwards, he took the opportunity to examine the refugees. They were certainly whispering together; and he noticed that their spokesman frequently passed from one squad to another about the deck. Their movements were suspicious; and Jack very much desired to know what their head man had to say in this confidential manner. The refugees were congregated on the deck around the wind-sail by which fresh air was introduced to the fire-room below the main-deck. Dunnett, the leader, was seated near this wind-sail at that moment, talking to a group around him; and Jack’s curiosity was so thoroughly stimulated, that he could not resist the temptation to become one of his hearers.