"If he did, where is he? It's open ground round here; and he couldn't have gone ten rods before we missed him." "The captain will give it to me," replied the other, whose voice the fugitive recognized to be that of the sergeant. "We shall find him," added the other. "He can't be twenty rods from here now." "I did not think of the young fellow running off, but kept both eyes on the other all the time; for I thought he wasn't telling all those stories for nothing." "Maybe he is in the house," suggested the other. Somers thought that was a very bad suggestion of the rebel soldier; and, if there had been any hope of their believing him, he would himself have informed them that he was not in the house, and reconciled his conscience as best he could to the falsehood. "Can't yer find 'em?" demanded a third person, which Somers saw, through the aperture he had left between the board and the window, was the farmer. "We haven't lost but one." "He can't be fur from this yere." "Isn't he in the house?" demanded the sergeant anxiously. "No; I saw them both foller yer out." "So did I," added the farmer's wife, who had come out to learn the cause of the excitement. "Well, then, we must beat about here, and find him;" and the party beneath the window moved away in the rear of the house. Thus far, the project was hopeful; but it was apparent to Somers that the rebels would not leave the place without searching the house, after they had satisfied themselves that the fugitive was not hidden in any of the out-buildings of the farm. If they did so, his situation would at once become hopeless, if he remained where he was. The remembrance of his former experience in a chimney, in another part of Virginia, caused him to cast a wistful eye at the great stone structure which adorned the end of the building. At that time, he had occupied his smoky quarters with the knowledge and consent of the lady of the house. But now his secret was lodged in his own breast alone; not even Captain de Banyan knew where he was, or what he proposed to do. When the party beneath the window left the place, he carefully removed the board, and thrust out his head to reconnoiter the position. The only way by which he could enter the chimney, which his former experience and prejudice assured him was the only safe place in the vicinity, was by the top. To achieve such a result was a difficult piece of gymnastics, even if it could have been performed without reference to any spectators; but to accomplish it without being seen by any of the party below was as near an impossibility as any impracticable thing could be.