These tame preachers selves as they are, and God as he is.* rave about hell-fire and lakes of sulphur. halting imaginations they have Better beds of brimstone than a couch of down on which one lies seeing what he might have been, but is n't, then seeing what he is! But pardon me; your mind is preoccupied with the business on which you came. You are anxious and impatient." "Can you tell me," asked Peek, "what it is about?" The clairvoyant folded his arms, and, bending down his head, seemed for a minute lost in contemplation. Then looking up (if that can be said of him while his external eyes were closed), he remarked: "The bloodhound will put you through. Only persevere." "And is that all you can tell me?" inquired Peek. "Yes. Why do you seem disappointed?" "Because you merely give me the reflection of what is in my own mind. You offer me no information which may not have come straight from your own power of thought-reading. You show me no proof that your promise may not be simply the product of my own sanguine calculations." "I cannot tell you how it is," replied the clairvoyant; "I say what I am impressed to say. I cannot argue the point with you, for I have no reasons to give." "Then I must go. What shall I pay?" 66 Pay him his usual fee, two dollars. Not a cent more." The clairvoyant sighed heavily, and leaning his elbows on the table, covered his face with his hands. He remained in this posture for nearly a minute. Suddenly he dropped his hands, shook himself, and started up. His eyes were open. He stared wildly about, then seemed to slip back into his old self. The former unctuous, villanous expression returned to his face. He looked round for his half-smoked cigar, which he took up and relighted. Peek drew two dollars from a purse, and offered them to him. "I reckon you can afford more than that," said Mr. Bender. "That's your regular fee,” replied Peek. "I haven't been here half an hour." *The actual definition given by E. A., one of the Rev. Chauncy Hare Townshend's mesmerized subjects. 'O well, we won't dispute about it," said the medium, thrusting the rags into a pocket of his vest. Peek left the house, the dinner-bell sounding as he passed out, and another whiff from the breath of the sausage-fiend that presided over that household pursuing him into the street. The course he now took was through stately streets occupied by large and showy houses. He stopped before one, on the door-plate of which was the name, Lovell. Here his friend Lafour lived as coachman. For two weeks they had not met. Peek was about to pass round and ring at the servant's door on the basement story of the side, when an orange was thrown from an upper window and fell near his feet. He looked up. An old black woman was gesticulating to Peek was quick to take a hint. He strolled could get without losing sight of the house. old woman hobble out and approach him. arched passage-way, and she joined him. "What's the matter, mother?" him to go away. away as far as he Soon he saw the He slipped into an "Matter enough. De debble's own time, and all troo you, Peek. I'se been watchin' fur yer all de time dese five days." Explain yourself. How have I brought trouble on Antoine?" 66 "Dat night you borrid de ole man's carriage, dat was de mischief. Policeman come las' week, an' take Antoine off ter de calaboose. Tree times dey lash him ter make him tell whar dey can find you; but he tell 'em, so help him God, he dun know noting 'bout yer." Peek reflected for a moment, and then recalled the fact that Myers, the detective, had got sight of the coat-of-arms on the carriage. Yes! the clew was slight, but it was sufficient. 66 My poor Antoine!" said Peek. "Must he, then, suffer for me? Tell me, mother, what has become of Victor, his dog?" "Goramity! dat dog know more'n half de niggers. He would n't stay in dat house ahfer Antoine lef; could n't make him do it, no how." "Where shall I be likely to find the dog?" "'Bout de streets somewhar, huntin' fur Antoine. dumb critter could talk, he 'd 'stonish us all." Ef dat "Well, mother, thank you for all your trouble. Here's a dollar to buy a pair of shoes with. Good by." The old woman's eyes snapped as she clutched the money, and with a "Bress yer, Peek!" hobbled away. The rest of that day Peek devoted to a search for Victor. He sought him near the stable, in the blacksmith's shop,in the market, at the few houses which Antoine frequented; but no Victor could be found. At last, late at night, weary and desponding, Peek retraced his steps homeward; and as he took out the door-key to enter the house, the dog he had been looking for rose from the upper step, and came down wagging his tail, and uttering a low squealing note of satisfaction. "Why, Victor, is this you? I've been looking for you all day." The dog, as if he fully understood the remark, wagged his tail with increased vigor, and then checked himself in a bark which tapered off into a confidential whine, as if he were afraid of being heard by some detective. Victor was a cross between a Scotch terrier and a thoroughbread Cuba bloodhound, imported for hunting runaway slaves. He combined the good traits of both breeds. He had the accurate scent, the large size and black color of the hound, the wiry hair, the tenacity, and the affectionate nature of the terrier. In the delicate action of his expressive nose, you saw keenness of scent in its most subtle inquisitions. Late as was the hour, Peek (who, in the event of being stopped, had the mayor's pass for his protection) determined on an instant trial of the dog's powers, for the exercise of which perhaps the night would in this instance be the most favorable time. He took him to Semmes's office, and making him scent the lawyer's glove, indicated a wish to have him find out his trail. Victor either would not or could not understand what was wanted. He threw up his nose as if in contempt, and turned away from the glove as if he desired to have nothing to do with it. Then he would run away a short distance, and come back, and rise with his fore feet on Peek's breast. He repeated this several times, and at last Peek said: "Well, have your own way. Go ahead, old fellow." Victor thanked him in another low whine, uttered as if ad dressed exclusively to his private ears, and then trotted off, assured that Peek was following. In half an hour's time, he stopped before a square whitewashed building with iron-grated windows. "Confound you, Victor!" muttered Peek. "You've told me nothing new, bringing me here. I was already aware your master was in jail. I can do nothing for him. Can't you do better than that? Come along!" Returning to Semmes's office, Peek tried once more to interest the dog in the glove; but Victor tossed his nose away as He would have nothing to do with it. if in a pet. "Come along, then, you rascal," said Peek. "We can do nothing further to-night. Come and share my room with me." He reached home as the clock struck one. Victor followed him into the house, and eagerly disposed of a supper of bones and milk. Peek then went up to bed and threw down a mat by the open window, upon which the dog stretched himself as if he were quite as tired as his human companion. CHAPTER XL. THE REMARKABLE MAN AT RICHMOND. "Let me have men about me that are fat; Shakespeare. ES, Ratcliff had escaped. His temper had not been YES sweetened by his forced visit to the North. In Fort Lafayette he had for a while given way to the sulks. Then he changed his tactics. Finding that Surgeon Mooney, though a Northern man, had conservative notions on the subject of the nigger," he addressed himself to the work of befooling that functionary. Inasmuch as Nature had already half done it to his hands, he did not find the task a difficult one. In his imprisonment Ratcliff had ample time for indulging in day-dreams. He grew almost maudlin over that photograph of Clara. Yes! By his splendid generosity he would bind to him forever that beautiful young girl. He must transmit his proud name to legitimate children. He must be the founder of a noble house; for the Confederacy, when triumphant, would undoubtedly have its orders of nobility. A few years in Europe with such a wife would suit him admirably. Slidell and Mason, having been released from Fort Warren in Boston harbor, would be proud to take him by the hand and introduce him and his to the best society. These visions came to soften his chagrin and mitigate the tediousness of imprisonment. But he now grew impatient for the fulfilment of his schemes. Delay had its dangers. True, he confided much in the vigilance of Semmes, but Semmes was an old man, and might drop off any day. A beautiful white slave was a very hazardous piece of property. At a It was not difficult for Ratcliff to persuade Surgeon Mooney that his health required greater liberty of movement. time when, under the Davis régime, sick and wounded United |