"No, Ben; I think nothing of the kind."
"Neider do I. He is a-plottin' against yo'."
"That is what I think, Ben. If I could manage it, I would have him arrested. Then we could get at the bottom of this affair."
Jack was speedily released, and the party of three left the lonely mountain cabin and started across the country for the Ruthven plantation.
"Yo' mudder will be tickled to see yo'," remarked Old Ben, as they trudged along. "She was worried to death ober yo' absence."
"After this I will see to it that they don't get me again," replied our hero.
Half a mile was covered when, on turning a point in the trail, they came unexpectedly upon a company of Confederate guerrillas who were taking it easy, lying in the grass.
"Hullo! who are you?" demanded one of the guerrillas as he leaped up and drew up his gun.
"Friends!" answered Jack.
Just then he caught sight of the men who had marched him away from the stable, and also of Pete Gendron, who was lying on some blankets in the shade.