Marion heaved a deep sigh, and Mrs. Ruthven shook her head slowly. Here was fresh trouble, more painful than any that had gone before.
"The guerrilla couldn't go off alone, could he?" asked Marion.
"Jack said he was quite seriously wounded, Marion. Still, the rascal may have been playing possum with Jack, and stolen off on the sly."
"If he was strong enough to do that, perhaps he took Jack with him to keep the boy from sounding an alarm."
"You may be right. We must find the boy if we can."
Slowly the day wore away, and no tidings came to the plantation. Toward evening St. John put in an appearance.
"The soldiers have cleared out," he said. "There isn't a regiment of any sort within a dozen miles."
"I am glad of it," answered Mrs. Ruthven, and then continued quickly, "Have you seen anything of Jack?"
"Do you mean to-day?"
"Yes."