sooner reached the entrance to the dungeon than Alice, who had remained
behind the table, not knowing whether to go out or not, saw the old
colored man seized by a soldier--one of those detailed at the fort.

"Here now, Jake!" the soldier exclaimed, "haven't I told you time and
again to keep away from here? You know you haven't any right to come in
this part of the fort!"

"Yais, sah, Cunnel, I knows it, sah," replied the aged negro, with a low
bow. "But yo' see, I done found mah li'l Missie what I'se been lookin'
fo' so long! Dat's why I come heah!"

"Great Scott! Have you been bothering some of the women visitors?" cried
the soldier and, wheeling about on his heel, he hurried into the dungeon,
which Alice had just decided to leave. He met her coming out, and by her
agitated manner must have guessed that something had happened.

"I beg your pardon, Miss," began the soldier, with a salute, "but has old
Jake annoyed you?"

"Oh, not at all," she answered, as calmly as she could. "He only startled
me for a moment; that is all. I was here alone, foolishly, perhaps--"

"Oh, no, that's all right," interrupted the soldier. "We want the
visitors to go about as they please, alone or in company. Old Jake's as
harmless as a kitten. He isn't just right up here," he said, touching his
head, and speaking in low tones.

"I thought as much," responded Alice, with a smile.