In the morning dawn horses and voices were heard by Hulda, and she recognized Joe Johnson's steps in the house. He shook Patty Cannon, but could not awaken her; then looked into Van Dorn's room, and found Hulda, apparently sound asleep, and heard his name called by Allan McLane across the hall:
"Joe! not so loud. Be conservative. Come in; I'm waiting for you. Is all done and fetched?"
"The bloke with the steeple felt will never snickle," spoke the ruffian.
"Good, good, Joe! Vengeance is mine, and it's a conservative saying. My dear sister is at peace."
"The two yaller pullets have slipped you; the abigail mizzled to the funeral with your niece, and t'other dell must have smelt us, and hopped the twig."
"Not tasteful language at all, Joe. I don't understand you. Where are the two bright wenches, Virgie and Roxy?"
"Roxie's in Baltimore; Virgie's run away."
"Run? Where? Don't trifle with me, Joe Johnson! Conservative as I am, I don't like it, sir. Where could she have run?"