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 you for an age, and didn't well know what had become of you&mdash;thought you might have gone into the swamps too with the skulking rebels."

"So I have," replied the other calmly&mdash;"not with the rebels, though. I see none of them to go with&mdash;but I have been skirting the cypress for some time, gathering what pigs the alligators found no use for. Pigs and poultry are the rebels I look after. You may judge of my success by their bawling."

In confirmation of what Humphries had said, at that moment the collection of tied pigs with which his cart had been piled and the tethered chickens undergoing transfer to a more fixed dwelling, and tumbled from the mass where they had quietly but confusedly lain for an hour or two before&mdash;sent up a most piteous pleading,&mdash;which, for the time, effectually silenced the speakers within. A moment's pause obtained, Humphries reverted, though indirectly, to the question which he had put to the tory captain touching the pursuit of Frampton by Travis; and, without exciting his suspicion by a positive inquiry, strove to obtain information.

"Travis will find Frampton if he chooses,&mdash;he knows the swamp quite as well&mdash;and a lean dog for a long chase, you know,&mdash;that is, if you have given him men enough."

"I gave him all he wanted: ten, he said, would answer: he could have had more. He'll catch him, or I'm mistaken."

"Yes, if he strikes a good route. The old paths are washed now by the freshet, and he may find it hard to keep track. Now, the best path for him to take, captain, would have been up over Terrapin Bridge by Turkey Town. That will bring him right into the heart of the swamp, where it's most likely Frampton hides."

"Terrapin Bridge&mdash;Turkey Town," said the other, seeming to muse. "No, he said nothing of these places: he spoke of&mdash;"

"Droze's old field," exclaimed Humphries, somewhat eagerly.

"Yes, that's the name; he goes that route; and I remember he spoke of another, where he said the waters were too high."

"Ay&mdash;and does he think to find Frampton on the skirts?&mdash;and then, what a round-about way by Droze's! eh! neighbours?&mdash;he can't be there before midnight. But of course he went there in time," said Humphries, insinuating the question.