It was a great place. That leaped to the eye, but it was not marked upon Colonel Winchester's map, nor had he heard of it.
“It's a grand house,” he said to his aides, “and it's a pity that it should go to ruin after the slaves are freed, as they certainly will be.”
“But it was built upon slave labor,” said Warner.
“So it was, and so were many of the most famous buildings in the world. But here, I'm not going to get into an argument about such questions with young men under my command. Besides, I'm fighting to destroy slavery, not to study its history. Sergeant Whitley, you're an experienced trailer: do you see any signs that troops have passed here?”
“None at all, sir. Down near the gate where the drive is out of repair I noticed wheel tracks, but they were several days old. The freshest of them were light, as if made by buggies. I judge, sir, that it was the family, the last to leave.”
“And the wagons containing their valuables had gone on ahead?”
“It would seem so, sir.”
Colonel Winchester sighed.
“An invader is always feared and hated,” he said.
“But we do come as enemies,” said Dick, “and this feeling toward us can't be helped.”