"Well, Corporal?" asked Morrison.
"Well, William?" asked Mrs. Cary.
"It's all right, Miss Hallie," Uncle Billy grinned. "Dey ain't took nothin'—not a single thing."
"Thank you, William," said Mrs. Cary, having triumphed again. "And thank you, gentlemen." With a bow to Morrison she went superbly back to her seat under the trees. But as she went it took all her strength of will to keep from crying. Down the carriage road a squad of cavalry was galloping furiously towards the river. And still she had not heard the three shots.
"Now, then, Corporal, you found what?"
"Nothing, sir. We hunted from cellar to roof. No arms and no rebels."
"H'm," he mused. "Anything else?"
"Three bedrooms, sir. All in use."
"Three?" Colonel Morrison exclaimed. "Very well. That's all. I'll join you in a moment." Then he turned to Mrs. Cary, his face stern with resolve.
"Madam," he said crisply, "you are not alone on this plantation with only this old negro. We are wasting time. I'm after a Rebel scout and I want him. Which way did he go?"