When the “General Morgan” steamed out into the river, they saw him waving his coonskin cap to them; and they stood at the rail as long as they could see the wharf, replying.
“Now that,” said Ned, putting his hat firmly upon his head, “is one of the finest men I ever saw.”
“I think so, too,” said Walter. “He’d do anything to serve any one he took a fancy to, or any one in need of help.”
The “General Morgan” was one of the swiftest steamers on the river; and it was not a great while before the boys found themselves in the city of New Orleans. Here the war rumors from Texas were thicker than further up the river. The recruiting of volunteers was openly going on. Upon posts and dead walls were loud sounding placards calling for volunteers. All this interested the boys greatly; but they were naturally still more interested in the finding of Ethel Norton.
The address given them by Dolph was not at all difficult to locate. But when they reached it and talked to the people who lived there they received some shattering intelligence.
The girl had gone back to San Antonio!
“But why?” asked Walter, amazed. “Why should she go back there at such a time? Texas is expected to be in a blaze of war.”
“I know it,” said the woman to whom they spoke. “And she knew it. But she saw a newspaper, from Louisville, I think, and it had something in it about a relative dying and leaving her some money. She was afraid she couldn’t establish her identity without some papers which she’d left behind at San Antonio.”
“Surely,” said Ned Chandler, “she didn’t go alone.”
“No,” said the woman. “My two sons went with her.”