"I'll see to this, Sir, if you want to go with Janet Rainsford. She's the gal that knows the woods. A splendid Sandy wife you'll make some young fellow, Janet, if you don't get too book-learned."
In five minutes we were off and had rounded the point out of sight and hearing. In a few hurried words I told my story, but at first Mr. Hammond would not believe it.
"Those men that I've done so much for and worked so hard for this winter!"
At last, convinced, his face set with the determined look that I had seen on it once or twice before.
"I'll not raise the wages of a single man, and, what's more, I'd turn them all off the place, if only I could find others. But those boats at Catlettsburg, they are the most important. The Company would send me up men from Cincinnati, if only I could get word to them; but these rascals will stop any letter I send. Those Sandians are capable of it,—or rather they are capable of putting the Irishmen up to doing their dirty work for them."
"A letter would be safe, if it once reached Catlettsburg?" I asked.
"Certainly. But how to get it there?"
"I can take it. Nobody will suspect me. Give me the letter to-night, and I will go to-morrow."
"You, Janet? you are crazy!"