"You're a good, brave fellow. Now tell me quick—don't waste a word —where is Lieutenant Scoville?"
"He's wid de pris'ners, en Perkins en sogers watchin' 'im."
"Why is Perkins watching him?" the girl asked in deep alarm.
"Dunno, Miss Lou, 'cept on 'count ob he gradge. Mad Whately en he talk knowin'—like en den Perkins tek he lantern en jine de gyard. W'en I las' see 'im he watchin' Marse Scoville close."
"Lieutenant Scoville wasn't hurt, was he?"
"Reck'n not. Didn't 'pear dat away, but he look at Perkins ez ef he feared on 'im. Ef I had ony Perkins ter deal wid I gib Marse Scoville he freedom in pay fer mine, but dar's sogers all aroun' en dey stick me quick ez dey would a pig."
"Oh, Chunk! what shall we do? I could have no influence over the guard or Perkins either. Oh! OH! Mad Whately, you'll end by making me loathe you. To think of employing that treacherous wretch!"
"Dat's des w'at I feard on, Miss Lou. Reck'n yo' cousin en Perkins projeckin' some debil trick."
"You say my cousin has charge of the prisoners?"
"Yassum. I yeared 'im gib de orders 'bout um, but I too fur off ter year w'at he say."