But as soon as I left, I began to think it over, and I
resolved to follow after you, not as a jailer but as a friend. I
met a little party of northern men, going out to the Kansas
country; and I knew Lieutenant Kammerer, here, at St. Louis. We
all thought alike. That girl yonder pleaded so hard that we took
her on with us, at Cairo. She was bound to get away. When we tied
up for the night, above St. Genevieve, we were attacked by these
Missourians here. I had intended to leave the boat, for now I knew
where you were. Lily told me you were taken--handled rudely--like
a slave--that you--Well then, I knew it was Dunwody.
"Of course, I was going to kill him. In the night none of us knew
who made up the party that fired on us. There were half a dozen
men killed, more than that many wounded, and we are prisoners here,
as you see. I suppose that's about all. But then, good God!
Madam, why break up our attempt to escape? Aren't you with us?
And how did you get hurt?"
She told him, simply, there had been accident.
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