"Madam, I know they are here," said the young soldier positively, but with great politeness. "I have positive information to that effect. They arrived last evening and have not left since. Their horses are still in the stable. I am sorry to be forced to do violence to my feelings, but I must search the house. Come, men." "I doubt not you have found their horses," began the lady, but she was interrupted by Lucy Ann, who entered at the moment with a plate of fresh corn-cakes, and caught the last part of the sentence. "Come along, Mister," she said, "I'll show you myself," and she set down her plate, took the candle from the table, and walked to the door, followed by the soldiers. "Lucy Ann!" exclaimed her mistress; but she was too much amazed at the girl's conduct to say more. "I know whar dey is!" Lucy Ann continued, taking no notice of her mistress. They heard her say, as she was shutting the door, "Y' all come with me; I 'feared they gone; ef they ain't, I know whar they is!" "Open every room," said the officer. "Oh, yes, sir; I gwine ketch 'em for you," she said, eagerly opening first one door, and then the other, "that is, ef they ain' gone. I mighty 'feared they gone. I seen 'em goin' out the back way about a little while befo' you all come,--but I thought they might 'a' come back. Mister, ken y' all teck me 'long with you when you go?" she asked the officer, in a low voice. "I want to be free." "I don't know; we can some other time, if not now. We are going to set you all free." "Oh, glory! Come 'long, Mister; let's ketch 'em. They ain't heah, but I know whar dey is." The soldiers closely examined every place where it was possible a man could be concealed, until they had been over all the lower part of the house. Lucy Ann stopped. "Dey's gone!" she said positively. The officer motioned to her to go up stairs. "Yes, sir, I wuz jes' goin' tell you we jes' well look up-stairs, too," she said, leading the way, talking all the time, and shading the flickering candle with her hand. The little group, flat on the floor against the wall in their dark retreat, could now hear her voice distinctly. She was speaking in a confidential undertone, as if afraid of being overheard. "I wonder I didn't have sense to get somebody to watch 'em when they went out," they heard her say. "She's betrayed us!" whispered Hugh. The General merely said, "Hush," and laid his hand firmly on the nearest boy to keep him still. Lucy Ann led the soldiers into the various chambers one after another. At last she opened the next room, and, through the wall, the men in hiding heard the soldiers go in and walk about. They estimated that there were at least half-a-dozen. "Isn't there a garret?" asked one of the searching party. "Nor, sir, 'tain't no garret, jes' a loft; but they ain't up there," said Lucy Ann's voice. "We'll look for ourselves." They came out of the room. "Show us the way." "Look here, if you tell us a lie, we'll hang you!"