“I am afraid that I have acted hastily in letting you undertake this matter,” said her father, drawing her to him. “In one way the fates are propitious. The papers to-day announce the fall of Vicksburg. That leaves the Mississippi entirely open and reduces the danger. Still it may be exposing you to some risk, and it now seems to me unwise to saddle so great a responsibility upon so young a girl. I wish there was some one else to send.”
“Father, I am glad to be of service. I am so proud to think that you have so trusted me. Now I am really doing something for the country. And I will not betray your trust.”
“I know that you will be as true as steel,” answered Mr. Vance tenderly. “I do not fear that you will betray my confidence, but let me caution you for yourself. Where have you concealed the papers?”
“Mother quilted them in my petticoat,” answered Jeanne.
“Then try to forget where they are. I was once on the train where a girl was traveling alone. She had evidently been warned against pickpockets, for ever and anon she would start up and clap her hand to her pocket. Do you see the point, daughter?”
“It showed plainly where she kept her money,” replied Jeanne promptly.
“Exactly. If you keep fingering the petticoat it will show to every one that there is something concealed there. Therefore forget all about the papers if you can. Act as naturally as a little girl would going to visit her uncle. There must of course be a reason for your going and I have provided for that in this way. Quinine is a contraband article and highly prized in the South. This basket has a false bottom. Above is a lunch for your journey and underneath a quantity of quinine. You may get through without falling into the Confederates’ hands but it is just as well to be prepared for emergencies, as you remarked last night. Should you happen to be taken by them and they question you too closely, finally confess about the quinine. It will be a point in your favor that you have smuggled it through the Union lines. Should they take it no matter. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.”
“I have secured transportation to Memphis, Tennessee,” continued Mr. Vance. “It brings you closer to New Orleans and leaves a shorter distance to be traversed by water. You will have to change cars twice. Once at Washington City which you can do easily as you have been there a number of times. The other is at Cincinnati, Ohio. Do you think you can manage it?”
“Why, of course I can,” said Jeanne proudly. “It isn’t as if I had never been anywhere.”