As soon as the duties of hospitality were over Miss Willifred would certainly recall her prisoner, and it could not be long before my escape from the room above would be known.

I must be safely out of the house before this occurred.
It seemed to me the stables offered the best hiding-place, or else the deserted negro cabins.
I could examine the greater part of the front yard from the windows, the squad of troopers camped near the gate, and the sentinel pacing before the steps, but was compelled to lean far out to gain any glimpse of the rear.

I could perceive no soldiers in this direction, however, and was encouraged to note a long grape arbor, thickly overgrown with vines, extending from the house to the other extremity of the garden.

Once safely within its shadow I might get through unseen.

And there was but one means of attaining the grape arbor--through the back hall, _via_ either the kitchen or the cellar.