"I can tell you very little now," the young man replied. "That the rebels are up to some mischief is quite certain. Pete has found out where they are to meet to-morrow night, so we must be on hand to learn their plans."
"Is it far from here?"
"Quite a distance. We shall take the canoe, and make it in several hours."
"Why not wait until daylight?"
"That would not do, as we need darkness for such work. The rebels must not know of our presence."
"Will there be any danger?" Jean enquired.
Dane smiled as he looked upon her sober face, and saw the anxious expression in her eyes.
"Nothing to worry about," he replied. "To some it might be a dangerous undertaking, but Pete and I have been at it so long that it has become almost second nature to us."
Jean said nothing more just then, but while her father and Dane talked, she whispered something to Mammy. At once the colored woman became very busy, and when at last Dane bade the Colonel good-bye, a basket filled with provisions was set before him.
"It's fo' yo' an' de Injun," Mammy explained. "I hope de Good Lo'd'll be wif yo', an' help yo' skedaddle dem rebels. But yo' can't do nuffin' wifout grub, Mistah Dane. No matt'r if yo' is in lub, yo' mus' eat to lib."