V 
 
 w 
 
 fi> 
 
 ! ;P 
 
 •fe^_ \A^ 
 
 ^^> 
 
 ■^ 
 
 '^'^■ir«? 
 
 % 
 
 k 
 
 'I. 1 . It- ,';;• "-as spokrtn^feforem^ terrible being, whose ^ 
 
 (Mcel} I II nil K pyes were get upon hira,'^roppe'l on one knee, placed anv 
 arrow oii . i r low-strin:;', and raiseil the M'eapon for an aim." — See page 44. 
 
 , Aiy WESLT:Y BRADStlAW, 
 
 jiUkorof "PauiiMof 'J%: Potomac," '^ VjIu,-U»:'''3 Rtllof Uiior," "Ge.tcral Corcoran'? Capliviii/," 
 
 •' Gtntral M;ClcUa7i^t Dream," ^ 
 
™i._^ 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE WILMER COLLECTION 
 OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 RICHARD H. WILMER, JR. 
 
 • • < 
 
*^ mMtM cumgfcj 
 
 PHILADELPHIA r 
 PUBLISHED BY ALLEXANDEK & CO. 
 
 123 SOITTH TUISD SXSEBT. 
 
i 
 
THE 
 
 PICKET SLAYER. 
 
 THE MOST THKILLING STORY OF THE WAK, 
 
 .Ajid by far tlie best that lias yet emanated frozn. tlie pen of tlie 
 
 Gi-reat National .A.utIior, 
 
 WESLEY BRADSHAW 
 
 Author of "Pauline of the Potomac," "General McOlellan's Dream," 
 
 " General Corcoran's Captivity," "Washington's Vision," 
 
 " The Volunteer's Roll of Honor," " The 
 
 Red Stone Pipe," &c. &c. 
 
 BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED WITH ORIGINAL AND ELEGAIH" ENGRAVINGS, ASS 
 ENRICHED WITH A MAGNIFICENTLY COLORED COVER, 
 
 • » 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 PUBLISHED BY ALEXANDER & CO. 
 
 123 South Thied Steeet. 
 
 Entered acoording to Act of Congress', in the year 1863, by ALEXANDER & 00., 
 in the Clerk's OflSce of the District Court of the United States, in and for th« 
 Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI 
 
 OB, 
 
 GEN. GRANT'S SPY. 
 
 THE HOST EXCITING NARRATIVE NOW OUT, 
 
 BKINO THM ACCOUNT 07 THB « 
 
 THRILLING ADVENTURES 
 
 OP 
 
 Miss Pauline D'Estraye 
 
 While serving as Gen. Grant's Spy, during the 
 
 Vicksburg Campaign. The only and well-beloved child 
 
 of a wealthy French Exile, Pauline was devoted by her father 
 
 on his death-bed to the Glorious Cause of the Union. And how faitb- 
 
 fdlly the heroic girl kept the vow she murmured to her expiring parent, as 
 
 his fast-failing arms wrapped her in the American Flag, was attested by 
 
 her splendid deeds during Gen. McClellan's Campaign. Not 
 
 content with that, however, Pauline determined to still 
 
 further serve the cause of her adopted country; 
 
 this time under the direction of General 
 
 Gbant, The Hero of Vicksburg I 
 
 We have gotten this ^ook up in the most elegant manner, with 
 
 SPLENDID AND ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 And a Richly-Colored Cover. 
 
 The most striking feature of which is the scene where 
 
 Maud Passes the BELOHJNG BATTERIES of Vicksburg! 
 
 ^ IN A PECULIAE BOAT OF HEB OWN DESIGN. 
 
 firmy booksellers, Sutlers and (Peddlers should furnish themselves 
 with this great book at onoe. 
 
 Single copies, or several oopies, mailed promptly to any ad-dress, 
 post paid, on receipt of 2§ cents per copy. 
 
 ALEXANDER & CO., Publishers, 
 
 123 Soath Tbird Street, PHILADELPHIA, 
 
44 
 
 THE PICKET SLAYER." 
 
 "t**- 
 
 Late on the night of Washington's birth-day, 1862, President Lin- 
 eoln and General McClellan were engaged in earnest consultation re- 
 garding some military matters of the highest importance. In the 
 midst of their conversation, a stranger was announced who, though 
 the hour was so unseasonable for visitors, expressed the strongest 
 wish to see either Mr. Lincoln or General McClellan. To a reply 
 that an audience would be impossible, the visitor sent up a letter, to 
 which was appended the single but magic word " Palmerston." 
 
 "It is rather strange, however, Mr. Lincoln," remarked General 
 McClellan, after the President had read the letter to him, " that this 
 communication should come directly from Palmerston, when the 
 proper channel should be Lord Lyons, he being the British Minister." 
 
 " Well," said the President, "the communication is certainly in the 
 handwriting of Palmerston himself, and doubtless there are good rea- 
 sons for his ifregular course in the matter. Let us see the bearer at 
 any rate." 
 
 " With all my heart," answered the General ; " we can hear what 
 he has to say about this diabolical creature." 
 
 A few moments after this, the unknown visitor was ushered into 
 the presence of the President and his celebrated chieftain. 
 
 As the newcomer was saluted 'and motioned to a chair by the Pres- 
 ident, both the latter and General McClellan closely scrutinized his 
 features and appearance. Mr. Lincoln did so in that mild, almost in- 
 nocent manner so characteristic of him, and McClellan with tha;t 
 keen, eagle glance so peculiarly his own. 
 
 (21) 
 
 602682 
 
22 A STARTLING NARRATIVE, 
 
 " Mr. "Wetherill," said tlie President, ut last opening conversation 
 on the subject-matter of the letter, " General McClellan and myself 
 were engaged with a most important matter when you were an- 
 nounced, and I was compelled to send down a refusal to see you ; but 
 after reading this letter, I felt assured that an interview should be had." 
 
 "Well, your Excellency and General," said Mr. Wetherill, bowing 
 first to the President and then to McClellar,, " I regret that I should 
 have interrupted you ; but I considered it highly necessary to see you 
 at the earliest moment after my arrival from England.'' 
 
 " In what steamer did you come, Mr. Wetherill ?" asked McClel- 
 lan. 
 
 "In the Bohemian, General, which reached Portland two days 
 since. I immediately started for Washington, and arrived here an 
 hour ago." 
 
 "I am almost startled, Mr. Wetherill," resumed the President, "at 
 the perusal of this letter of Lord Palmerston's. Is there no mistake, 
 no misapprehension in the matter ?" 
 
 " None whatever, your Excellency," answered the visitor ; " in fact 
 no language, however strong, can convey, to the mind a really correct 
 conception of this startling, terrible being !" 
 
 "I am exceedingly curious, Mr. Wetherill, to hear a full detail in 
 relation to the awful anomaly of Nature referred to in Lord Palmer- 
 ston's communication." 
 
 " That, or as nearly as possible, I will give your Excellency. In 
 the year 1844, I became established as a practicing physician in the 
 City of London. The very first case I received was a most peculiar 
 orfe. I had retired one night, and had just fallen into a sort of wak- 
 ful slumber, when I was aroused suddenly by a ring at the night bell. 
 The servant who went to open the door, quickly brought me word 
 that a young and noble looking gentleman wished to see me 
 instantly. I quickly slipped on my clothes and hurried down to the 
 office, where I found a stranger pacing the room with uneasy steps. 
 
 "His features, excepting a piercing black eye, and a marble-pale 
 forehead, I was unable to see, as they- were concealed by the care- 
 fully arranged folds of a heavy Spanish mantle. 
 
 " * Doctor Wetherill,' he commenced, in a voice altered from its 
 usual tone, and yet tremulous from excitement, ' I want you to come 
 with me instantly. Here is gold, if you wish your fee now,' extend- 
 ing a purse from beneath his mantle as he spoke — ' and my own 
 carriage, with fleet horses, is at the door ! Come, it is a matter erf 
 life and death ! all depends on you ! Come instantly ! ' 
 
 "Naturally fond of adventure and mystery, I did not hesitate 
 
A STARTLING NARRATIVE. 23 
 
 longer than to get my hat and surtout — for tlie weather was stormy^ — 
 and, within a minute and a half, I was seated with my strange patron 
 in a richly cushioned coach, that went flying along behind a pair of 
 splendid steeds, 
 
 "I had fully expected to be conveyed to some aristocratic mansion, 
 in keeping with the vehicle in which I rode. What was my surprise, 
 however, to find the carriage, after a long drive, drawn up before a 
 neat little cottage, some distance out upon the Northern Eoad. 
 
 " * This is the place !' said my companion, in tones lower and firmer 
 than he had used before. 
 
 "The following instant, without waiting for the coachman, he 
 himself had sprung from his seat to the ground, and stood, with the 
 coach door in his hand, waiting for me. I got out nimbly, and fol- 
 lowed my mysterious guide into the cottage, and up to a chamber on 
 the second floor. I had, from the first, half guessed the object for which 
 my services had been sought, and I was not, therefore, surprised at 
 the sight that my glance fell on when I entered the chamber I 
 speak of. 
 
 *' On an elegantly furnished couch lay one of the most lovely beings 
 I ever beheld. She was now insensible, yet it was evident that she 
 had but recently been strongly convulsed. One arm, white as alabas- 
 ter, and peerless in its moulding, rested, where it had been tossed, 
 upon a bunch of long, flaxen, dishevelled curls, whilst the other was 
 pressed upon a heart that seemed to have ceased its throbbings. The 
 rigid features were wonderfully regular, but hueless as the snow." 
 
 At this point the narrator was interrupted by the entrance of a 
 staff officer, who, saluting his superiors, handed to General McClellan 
 several dispatches, which, as the General read, he handed to the 
 President, with the remark : 
 
 " Those relieve us of our anxiety." 
 
 Then turning to Mr. "Wetherill, he continued. 
 
 " I am sorry, sir, you were interrupted, but the interruption gives 
 us more time to listen to your narrative, which has already so deeply 
 interested me that I beg of you to relate the fullest details thereof." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln, as the staff officer left the apartment, made a like 
 remark, and Mr. Wetherill resumed : 
 
 " It needed not any words from my unknown guide to tell me 
 what was wanted. I saw all in an instant. A few hurried questions 
 and replies of the old woman who was by the bedside, placed me in 
 possession of all the information I needed, and I proceeded at once 
 to my duty. 
 
24 A STABTUNG NARRATIVE. 
 
 " '•■ A short time after midnight, the soula of mother and child passed 
 each other through the portal of eternity. 
 
 " ' Dead ! dead I did you say ? " gasped the young man by whom I 
 had been brouglit to the cottage, dropping the mantle from about his 
 face, and seizing my arm with both hands, as the fact was announced 
 to him. ' Oh, doctor,' he continued, in t\ie most anguished tones, ' I 
 brought you here to save her 1' 
 
 " ' I have used my utmost skill, sir,' replied I, in a soothing man- 
 ner, 'but it was, alas, too late.' 
 
 " ' Too late ! too late ! ' he repeated after me, vacantly. Then 
 relinquishing his grasp upon my arm, he turned to the bedside, and, 
 bending over the lovely corpse, he took the two dead arms, and, 
 twining them about his neck, fondly kissed the pale lips of the 
 deceased. 
 
 " Rising to his feet, he turned again to me, and said, in a calm 
 voice : 
 
 " ' Doctor, my grief has overthrown my prudence, and caused me 
 to discover myself to you. Can I trust to your life-long secrecy ? ' 
 
 " 'On my honor you can,' I quickly rejoined, taking his extended 
 hand in mine, and pressing it warmly. I had recognized him as the 
 eldest son of one of England's most celebrated Peers. 
 
 " He and I parted for the night, after he had set me down at my 
 own door, and promised to call and see me on the succeeding day. 
 Ho kept his promise, and from him I obtained a history of his life 
 for the past year or so. It was the old tale. He had seen this beau- 
 tiful but poor girl, and fallen in love with her. She was beneath his 
 station in life, and, of course, marriage was out of the question. Hia 
 ardent love was returned, and, in an unguarded hour, Mary fell from 
 woman's highest estate. More need not be said. 
 
 '^The infant, a lovely little girl, became the object of the father's 
 whole affection, and from the hour of her birth up to her tenth year 
 she was scarcely away from him more than a week at a time. 
 Strange enough, however, the more strenuously her parent sought 
 to gain her affections, the more repulsive became her disposition and 
 temperament. At this time the father died suddenly and somewhat 
 mysteriously, and young Mary was left an entire orphan. On his 
 deaih-bed he injudiciously, as I deemed, told the full story of her 
 mother's wrong to Mary, taking, of course, the whole blame of the 
 iiuliajjpy aflair upon iiimself, and imploring his daughter to have the 
 example of her mother's fate constantly before her eyes. The reci- 
 tal took a deep effect upon the child's mind, and for several weeks 
 after her parent's death she was retiring, and even morose. 
 
\ 
 
 A STARTLING XAKRATIVE. 25 
 
 " Having promised the father to take her to my home and see to 
 her raising, I had a good opportunity to study her temperament and 
 natural traits of character ; and every succeeding day of her existence 
 I became more and more convinced that she was a fearful anomaly, 
 one of those pent-up tempests of soulless mind — if the expression is 
 applicable — that, when they burst upon mankind, are most terrible in 
 their effects. Fully comprehending the ehame of her birth, she 
 discontinued the use of her father's name after his death, and called 
 herself Mary Murdock. 
 
 " Her mind was extremely powerful and brilliant, and I therefore 
 allowed her the use of my library, hoping for beneficial results. In 
 my earlier^years, I had been an enthusiastic investigator of those 
 occult sciences and abstruse philosophies that were once carried to 
 such perfection in Oriental countries, and I had spent large sums ia 
 the purchase of rare and valuable books that treated of such subjects. 
 A collection of several hundred strange old volumes was one result 
 of this enthusiasm ; and these tomes, covered with dust, occupied a 
 separate portion of my library. In the course of her examination, 
 Mary chanced upon this collection. 
 
 "As the wearied traveler in the desert plunges into the unexpected 
 water pool, and drinks even to excess, so Mary plunged into the 
 reservoir of subtle lore that I unconsciously had prepared for her, 
 years previous. Her mental nature, too, seemed specially adapted 
 for the reception of just such knowledge as was here stored within 
 her reach. The result was astounding. Night and day, early and 
 late, she was in the library, devouring th^ contents of musty, worm- 
 eaten old books and manuscripts, that even I, with all my ardor for 
 investigation, had failed to make intelligible. For awhile, my 
 wonder was awakened, and then my fears excited for the mind of the 
 strange young creature, whose father I had solemnly promised, to 
 guide her aright to maturity. 
 
 "Her manners and habits, and even her personal appearance, 
 became quickly, strangely altered. Hitherto her cheeks had been 
 rosy, and her deep blue eyes dreamy and soft in expression ; but now 
 the roseate hue of her cheeks was replaced by a singular pallor, 
 while her eyes burned with a brilliant, flashing light, that at times 
 caused her to look weird, or, more truthfully, demoniac. During 
 her previous life, she had always been frightened at the approach, ' 
 and during the continuance, of a storm ; but now her utmost appa- 
 rent delight was to wander out into the open air, and expose herself 
 to evci-y tempest. The more fiercely the elements raged, the more 
 perfectly did they seem to harmonize with her wild nature. On 
 
26 THE BEAUTIFUL DEMON, 
 
 these and also other occasions, she would fling her arms abroad, and 
 apostrophise some unseen beings in the language of the Oriental 
 Magi. 
 
 " I scarcely knew what measures to take. I confined her in her 
 room, and in two days she raved like a maniac. I threatened her 
 with my displeasure, and she laughed me to scorn. I told her that I 
 would burn every volume in the library. At this she became for 
 awhile absolutely insane. Last of all, I tried the effect of reasoning 
 kindly with her. I couched my appeals to her in terms of endear- 
 ment, and succeeded thereby in calming her. 
 
 " After quietly listening to me one day, she replied to the effect 
 that she. was a Qhild of sin, doomed from the moment of her birth to 
 perdition, and destined, while she remained on earth, to be the enemy 
 of everything good. 
 
 " ' Thanks to your books, Doctor,' she continued, with the assured 
 manner of a person of forty years, ' I have been enabled to master 
 those sciences that teach me how to communicate with. my kindred 
 spirits in the lower world. It was not your fault ! They guided me 
 from birth ; I am theirs forever ! I shall perform my part oa earth, 
 and, when that is done, I shall be loosed from the body, and go to 
 where I belong. By your hand. Doctor, they tell me I, that is, my 
 body, shall dieP 
 
 " I shuddered ; my flesh, crept with horror, as the words of the 
 child monster fell upon my ears. Could it be that out from those 
 beautiful eyes a demon from the bottomless pit was staring at me ? 
 that the spirit which animated the fragile form before me was one of 
 darkness ? The thought made my very soul sick, 
 
 " 'I must leave you, Doctor!' exclaimed Mary, at this moment, 
 ' I must leave you ; they are calling me !' 
 
 " With an indescribable glance, the youthful speaker started from 
 the chair on which she had been sitting, and bounded away to the 
 library. 
 
 " I did not go after her, but remained where I was, long and deeply 
 pondering the course I ought to pursue in regard to my charge. The 
 impression quickly graved itself upon my mind that I must devote 
 my life, for years to come, to Mary alone, and that impression I re- 
 solved to carry out. 
 
 " My first step in this direction was a re-application to the study 
 of those occult arts and sciences to which I have already referred, and 
 an entire abandonment of my practice. Doubtless, gentlemen, this 
 may strike you as rather superstitious ; but I myself have discov- 
 ered some startling fagts, facts, I repeat the word, in regard to the 
 
THE PURSUER. 27 
 
 connections that exist, and the connections that may exist, between 
 man and the beings of tlie other workh But I shall not weary you 
 with useless detail. Suffice it to say, that from the time I commenced 
 my surveillance upon the singular being I have been speaking of, 
 I have had one unbroken contest with her. 
 
 " Several weeks since, I was stricken down with a short but 
 sudden illness, during which Mary escaped, and went, no one knew 
 whither. I was satisfied that I should presently hear of her wherever 
 she might have gone to. As I expected, I learned, not from man, 
 however, that my charge had sailed for America to join herself to 
 the cause of the rebellion that is now rending your land. I immedi- 
 ately took the next steamer that sailed, and am here, for the purpose 
 of securing this terrible being. Previous to setting out from 
 England, I took the precaution of obtaining from my friend, Lord 
 Palmerston, an autograph letter as to my object in coming hither. 
 His lordship has for some time been deeply interested in this — what 
 he terms — ' diabolical phenomenon of Nature,' and I trust, after 
 reading his lordship's letter, that you will allow me, your Excellency^ 
 a free communication in and out of the lines of the Union armies. 
 I could pass them whenever I might feel so disposed, without the 
 slightest trouble ; but I shall at times need your assistance, and also 
 that of General McClellan, in the prosecution of my search ; and I 
 prefer that there shall be no concealment about my actions." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Wetherill," said General McClellan, " what you have 
 said has induced, in my mind at least, an idea that this young and 
 beautiful creature is the victim of a most peculiar madness, or 
 rather, to use plain language, possessed of a devil, if such a thing is 
 possible. But what are really her powers for harm ?" 
 
 "Her powers for harm, General, are almost unlimited, except 
 when under the direct influence of myself, or at least some one who 
 has mastered those occult sciences of which I have before spoken. . 
 For instance, the barriers of your best and most rigidly kept lines, 
 General, she could penetrate at any time she chose, morning, noon, 
 or night, without the slightest peril of being captured. She could 
 introduce herself into this apartment though you were to guard it 
 with a full regiment, and were there information here valuable to 
 the enemy, and which she wished to obtain, you might seal it with 
 all the care possible, yet she would get it." 
 
 " I hope most sincerely, then, Mr. Wetherill," said the President, 
 " that you may succeed at the earliest moment in capturing this 
 terrible creature. But, to speak the truth, sir, and I hope I shall 
 
28 A VISIT PROMISED. 
 
 not offend you thereby, 1 have no such fears as you appear to have, 
 concerning this wild, eccentric girl." 
 
 " I think I know what your Excellency means by that expression," 
 replied Mr. Wetherill, in a quiet manner; "you mean that any belief 
 in the exercise of such powers as I have described, is altogether 
 erroneous, and; perhaps, to be plainer, that it is silly." 
 
 "I must own up to, it Mr. Wetherill," replied the President, in 
 his blunt, though not offensive manner, "that I cannot bring myself 
 to credit any such doctrine as communication, or rather alliances and 
 partnerships between people of this world and any other. It strikes 
 me very forcibly that that sort of business saw its best days in the 
 dark ages." 
 
 " Well, your Excellency," said Mr. Wetherill, in the same quiet 
 tone as before, " it would be useless for me to argue the matter with 
 you, but I will, ere morning, bring to your attention something that 
 will perhaps startle even you. I will see both yourself and General 
 McClcllan again before daybreak. You may surround yourselves 
 with as many guards as you choose, and give them express orders 
 against admitting me. Yet I will pass them, and hold an interview 
 with you both. Understand me properly, gentlemen," continued the 
 speaker, rising to take his departure, " I do not intend to do this as 
 the juggling magician performs his tricks of magic before an audi- 
 ence, but by means of a science, that, however startling and profound, 
 is still within the reach of any mind of ordinary intelligence, that 
 will diligently prosecute the researches necessary to its attainment 
 I will leave Lord Palmerston's letter with you until to-morrow, at 
 two o'clock, your Excellency, at which time I beg you will grant me 
 another interview." 
 
 "I will do so with pleasure, Mr. Wetherill," answered the Presi- 
 dent, urbanely ; " and," continued he, with one of his peculiar smiles, 
 " I shall be equally pleased to see you in that startling visit that you 
 propose to favor me with during the night. And I have no doubt 
 General McClellan will, also." 
 
 One or two remarks of a general character passed among the three, 
 and then Mr. Wetherill took his departure. 
 
 " What opinion do you form of that man, Mr. Lincoln ?" asked 
 General McClellan, when the strange visitor had gone. 
 
 " Well, I hardly know. General," answered the President, "but it 
 does rather strike me that he's just about as queer as this girl herself, 
 that he is in such a quandary about. To say the truth, I think he's 
 rather on the luney order. What do you think ?" 
 
 " Had he lacked the letter from Lord Palmerston," rejoined McClel- 
 
SURMISES. ' 29 
 
 Ian, " and come merely with his own apparently wild assertions, I 
 should not have given him much consideration. But I hardly think 
 that, under the existing circumstances, and remembering, also, the 
 delicate relations at the present time between this country and Eng- 
 land, a man of Palmerston's sound sense would meddle in a silly 
 affair. And you notice how strong his language is in regard to this 
 singular and dreadful being. Besides, when I was a boy, I myself 
 remember an old man in Philadelphia, who was said to possess 
 powers exactly similar to those described by Wetherill. There 
 happened, under my own observation, two facts in connection with 
 this old man, that were most decidedly startling and unaccountable." 
 
 " But then," remarked the President, " this letter of Palmerston's, 
 though apparently genuine, may, after all, be only a clever forgery." 
 
 " I hardly think the seal could be," suggested McClellan. 
 
 " That is true," quickly answered the President ; " that is true. 
 Well, we shall learn more of the matter to-morrow." 
 
 As there was now nothing to detain Mr. Lincoln or General 
 McClellan, each bade the other good night and parted. 
 
 -•-•-^ 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE TRAITOR AND HIS DEMON FRIEND. 
 
 Leaving both our distinguished characters, however, for awhile, 
 we shall make a retrogression, that our succeeding narrative may be 
 the more clearly understood. 
 
 The traitor President of tlie Southern Confederacy sat alone in his 
 private library, harrassing his mind for expedients to excuse the 
 unpromising condition of Rebel affairs to tlic people about whose 
 necks he and his coadjutors were endeavoring to place a most 
 tyrannical yoke. 
 
 "While thus engaged, he was considerably startled by the appear- 
 ance directly before him of a singularly beautiful girl, 
 
 "Pardon me, Miss," he said, in amazement, gazing at his unbidden 
 visitor, " but I thought myself alone. "What would you have of 
 me?" 
 
 "Nothing! "What would you have of meT^ was the prompt 
 reply, spoken in tones unlike any that the traitor's ears had evor 
 heard. 
 
30 JBFF. DA vis's VISITOR, \ 
 
 Davis, with all his cold determination of character, became con- 
 fused. He was at a loss for words to answer his fair interrogator. 
 The latter,. without the motion of a muscle, continued to gaze directly 
 into the face of the arch-traitor for the space of nearly a minute, 
 when she broke the silence thus : 
 
 " President Davis, your cause has received some stunning blows 
 lately ! To awaken the ardor of your people, you must have 
 victories ; to have victories, you need assistance ; to give you that 
 assistance, I am here. Speak ! what would you have me do ?" 
 
 Davis was more than ever mystified, and perplexing thoughts 
 erowded themselves confusedly into his mind. 
 
 " Pray, Miss," said he at length, freeing himself somewhat of his 
 embarrassment, " may I enquire who you are ?" 
 
 " You may. I am called Mary Murdock." 
 
 " One more question. Miss Murdock," continued Davis, in a half 
 polite, half stern tone, " how did you gain admittance to this apart- 
 ment ?" 
 
 " By a power which recognizes not the will of mortal man." 
 
 This laconic reply was accompanied by a piercing look that caused 
 the Rebel President to shudder, and induced him to the belief that 
 bis mysterious visitant was either a spirit or a lunatic. 
 
 Scarcely knowing what reply he was making, he said : 
 
 " You say you have come here to render, through me, assistance 
 to the holy cause for which the Southern people are so nobly bat- 
 tling?" 
 
 "My mission hither. President Davis, is to render your cause 
 assistance, not because it is holy, as you hypocritically say, but 
 because it is the most diabolical that could be conceived of." 
 
 Davis leaped to his feet, his eyes flashing fire, and his lips pale, 
 and quivering with rage. The next instant, however, he sank back 
 in his chair, limp and helpless, whilst his visitor made several swift 
 passes before his eyes, uttering as she did so, some cabalistic words or 
 exclamations. 
 
 Pausing for a moment, she regarded the victim of her spell in 
 silence. Then reversing her incantation, she caused him to recover 
 himself. 
 
 " You know me now as a potential friend, do you not ? " asked 
 she of her companion, bending on his countenance another of her 
 terrible glances. 
 
 " Yes ! yes !" murmured Davis, in a voice which resembled that of 
 a man who has been nearly strangled. 
 
 " Then direct me as to what you would have me do, and I will do 
 

 c 
 
 o 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 s 
 p. 
 
 a 
 
 E 
 
 at 
 
 M 
 
 a 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 
 — x 
 
 -= I 
 
 » — 
 
 - s 
 
 c o 
 
 a. a 
 
 ^ • 
 
 ?► 
 
 Sk 
 
 on 
 
A VALUABLE AID. 39 
 
 it ; that is, provided it is not to go to "Wasliington. There is in that 
 city a counter-influence, much more powerful than mine ; one which 
 I must carefully avoid." 
 
 " Ah," replied Davis, " Washington is the place, above all others 
 at this juncture, in which I want spies. There are hundreds willing 
 to undertake the enterprise, but the lines of McClellau's army are so 
 thoroughly kept that it is almost impossible to get through," 
 ^ "I will make their passr.ge easy for theml" said the strange 
 being, without a moment's hesitation, yet more as though she were 
 soliloquizing than addressing Davis. 
 
 " There are two men," resumed the latter, " who intended setting 
 out to-morrow morning to make the attempt ; and if I can only get 
 them into Washington for a few days, and back safely, they will 
 stand me in better stead than a whole army corps." 
 
 " To-morrow morning do they start ? " inquired Mary Murdock, 
 for by this name must we call the beautifftl demon. I 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Then I will accompany them. I will be here at eight o'clock ; 
 I suppose they will be ready by that time ? " 
 
 " I will see that they are," replied Davis. 
 
 "Then, until that hour, farewell. We shall be of much service 
 to each other. President Davis, and also to the cause of the Confed- 
 eracy ! Ha ! ha ! " 
 
 The following moment the speaker was gone. 
 
 Upon finding himself alone once more, the Rebel President paced 
 up and down the floor of the apartment with i*low, indecisive steps. 
 
 "Is it possible," muttered he, "that such a being can exist? the 
 face and form of an angel, and the soul of a demon. But what matters 
 it ? she will serve me well. I wish her powers were mine. To 
 what station would I not reach ? I would conquer the whole earth, 
 and reign its supreme sovereign. Oh ! how glorious that would bo I 
 But I have a different fate, far dilFereut! Providence has assigned 
 to me, as one of its creatures, a not very enviable position, and I 
 must fill it. Yes 1 yes, it is my fate ! So be it ! So let the wheel 
 of Desiiny roll on ! " 
 
 The next morning,'punctual to her appointment, Mary Murdock 
 waited upon Jeff. Davis, wh^with equal punctuality, had his two 
 emissaries ready to start with her. 
 
 These were astonished upon seeing who their guide and protoG- 
 treas was to be, and one of them, taking Davis aside, said to him : 
 
 " There is some mistake about this matter, is there not, Uncle 
 Jefif? or are you sending this lovely young girl aa a blind? " 
 2 
 
40 THE TWO SPIES AND THEIR COMPANTON". 
 
 " Neither one nor the other," replied the Rebel President ; " th* 
 being, whom you call a lovely young girl, is possessed of far more 
 power than I am. She will take you as safely through the Federal 
 line?, as though there were no lines." 
 
 "That is exactly the girl for us and the Confederacy, then!" 
 laughed the other. "But who is she? I am wonderfully struck 
 with her beauty, and, if I thought her fortune was as handsome aa 
 her face, I would make good use of my time between here and the 
 Yankee army." 
 
 " You talk unwittingly ! " said Davis ; " that paragon of loveli- 
 ness, so sweetly angelic in her outward appearance, is in reality one 
 of the most terrible beings of which you could conceive." 
 
 " Then I hardly think that she would suit me, for my former wife 
 was more than a match for me. However, she is becoming impa- 
 tient. I see she is afraid, I suppose, of being too late for the train. 
 I will step back to her." * 
 
 Mary Murdock, who had been sitting down, had risen to her feet 
 just before the spy made the conclusion of his remarks to Davis, and 
 she now stood leaning upon what seemed to be a long staff, con- 
 cealed in a muslin case made specially for it. 
 
 After a few final instructions to his two servants and a gracious 
 farewell to the beauteous demon, Mary Murdock, Davis parted with 
 the trio, who made their way directly to the railroad depot from 
 which they were to start on their journey. This they just reached 
 in time to secure seats abroad the train for Manassas. 
 
 All the way along, sthe two spies and their fair companion were 
 extremely sociable ; and so fascinating were the beauty and accom- 
 plishments of the latter, that, ere half the contemplated distance was 
 passed over, the two former were each desperately enamored with 
 her. 
 
 It was night when Orange Court-House was reached, and a heavy 
 rain, mingled with snow, rendered the weather remarkably disagree- 
 able. 
 
 One of the spies, who had a friend in the town, proposed to pass 
 the night there, and resume the journey by next morning's train. 
 
 In a moment Mary's manner was entirely changed. 
 
 " No delay," she said, in authoritative tones ; " did not the Presi- 
 dent specially order you not to tarry on the road, under any consid- 
 eration, but to push forward with all speed ?" 
 
 " The d — 1 !" muttered one of the spies to his companion, in a 
 whisper, " she must be very intimate with Davis, that he should im- 
 part to her the instructions he gave us. "What she has just repeated 
 
' THK UNION LINE IN SIGHT. 41 
 
 were the exact words of the President to myself, and I'll wager mj 
 life that we were alone at the time." 
 
 " Oh, well," was the rejoinder, "perhaps she's a sort of Louise de 
 La Valiere to Davis. It was on your account. Miss Murdock," con- 
 tinued the speaker, turning to Mary, "that we wished to stop until 
 the weather should moderate." 
 
 "Give yourself no concern, gentlemen," quickly answered the fair 
 girl, " for my welfare or ease. Do your duty to the Confederacy, no 
 matter who suflers by it. The President timed your arrival near the 
 Federal lines exactly, and there, at that time, you must be, hail, rain, 
 or shine I I shall be there to see that you experience no difficulty in 
 passing the enemy's pickets." 
 
 At this moment the train rushed onward, and soon left the court- 
 house in the distance. 
 
 " Miss Murdock," said one of the spies, after silence had been 
 maintained for some time, "how do you intend to guide us through 
 the Federal lines? I should judge you to have been a resident in a 
 large city, unaccustomed to such a rough country as that across 
 which these same lines stretch." 
 
 " I will make a gap with this," she answered, glancing sideways 
 at the long muslin case that she held in hsr hand, " and through 
 that gap you two will pass on to Washington. There you will fulfil 
 your mission, get your passes, and return to this identical point. 
 Here I will await you, and make your passage of the pickets again 
 an easy matter, as your passes will not take you outside without 
 assistance." 
 
 " May I be bold enough," continued he who had addressed Mary, 
 " to inquire what you have there in that case, and how it will 
 perform the almost magic powers you assign to it." 
 
 " Ah I time enough yet for you to ascertain all that," answered the 
 beautiful girl, with an expression on her countenance that forbade 
 farther inquiry upon the subject. 
 
 As the trio proceeded Northward, the weather became dryer and 
 colder, and by the time they reached the appointed spot, snow cover- 
 ed the ground to the depth of several inches, above which the bleak, 
 frosty wind rushed and whirled fiercely with its wintry music. 
 
 It was eleven o'clock at night when they came within sight of the 
 outermost line of Union pickets. We say within sight, and with 
 truth, for, though the stars were nearly all obscured by masses of 
 drifting grey clouds, yet the reflection of the snow was so great as to 
 render objects distinctly visible at a considerable distance. The 
 Federal pickets were prohibited, under the extreme penalty of death, 
 
42 THE demon's strategem. 
 
 from using fire, as valuable information would thereby be conveyed 
 to the Rebel commanders. And as the cold was excessive, the shiv- 
 ering, but faithful heroes were obliged to keep moving about contin- 
 ually. By reason of this fact, and also the contrast afforded by their 
 heavy, blue overcoats to the snow, they could be easily seen by 
 Mary Murdock and her two companions. With a wonderful 
 forethought, the beautiful demon had, while passing a farm-house 
 near by, entered the latter, and purchased three white sheets. Re- 
 taining one of these herself, she gave one to each of the spies, with 
 orders to use them as she. should instruct. The object of the strange 
 action they did not perceive until they and their companion reached 
 a small clump of woods between which and the moving sentinels 
 there stretched several wide, level fields. 
 
 " Do you see that tall soldier across there ?" asked she of the two 
 spies, 
 
 "Yes," was the reply, 
 
 " You perceive, of course, how easily he can be distinguished, even 
 at this distance, on account of the striking contrast afforded by his 
 uniform to the snow." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " And you perceive, also, that at the moment he passes that large 
 tree, though he is this side of it, yet he is instantly lost to view, 
 owing to the fact that the dark color of the tree blends with that of 
 his dress." 
 
 " Yes, we see all that," answered the spies. 
 
 " Yery well," resumed Mary Murdock. " Now, we must cross 
 these fields, which are uninterruptedly white. Should we do so with- 
 out precaution, discovery would be certain, and an alarm would follow 
 just as certainly. A safeguard against this I obtained when I pur- 
 chased the three sheets at the farm-house at which we last stopped." 
 
 " Oh, yes, yes. Miss Murdock," exclaimed one of Mary's com- 
 panions, in a voice rather incautiously loud. " I see it all now ; 
 we're to wrap ourselves up in these slieets, which, being the same 
 color as the snow, cannot be detected while moving over the snow." 
 
 " That is exactly the idea," returned Mary ; " but do not forget," 
 she continued, " that, in that case, you must keep out in the open 
 space, and not come, if it is possible to avoid it, before any dark back- 
 ground, as trees or bushes; for, in such case, your disguise makes you 
 even more conspicuous to the sharp-sighted sentinels, than do their 
 dark uniforms on the snow." 
 
 " Well really, Miss Murdock," said the other spy, in complimen- 
 
A STRANGE WEAPON. 43 
 
 tary tones, " you are a genius I Who would ever have thought of 
 such a capital expedient ?" 
 
 " Well, as you both now understand, let us go forward speedily." 
 
 As the beautiful demon was speaking, she drew from the long 
 muslin bag or case that had excited the curiosity of her companions, 
 a simple bow, such a one as is used by a few of the Indians of the 
 Far West. It was not quite three feet long, and formed of a 
 single piece of bone as white as ivory, and equally hard and 
 polished. In addition, however, it was possessed of an unsurpassed 
 elasticity. 
 
 . [As the reader, who, may never have heard of the use of these 
 peculiar bows by the Savages of the plains, may think such a weapon 
 impossible, we deem it necessary in this connection, to describe it. 
 The bows in common use by the Indians, consist generally of a strip 
 of the ^025 (Z' Arc, finished on the back with layers of the sinews and 
 glue of the bufi'alo. Others are made by lashing several flat strips 
 of the bufialo's horns securely together. But how or where the 
 Indians obtain the strange bow to which we refer, no traveller has 
 ever yet been able to ascertain. When questioned concerning them, 
 the Savages invariably point Westward toward the Eocky Mountains, 
 and exclaim, " Medicine,'''' which means *' Mystery." The only plausi- 
 ble theory yet advanced in regard to the weapon is, that the coast 
 tribes on the Pacific form it from the tooth, or rather snout, of the 
 Narwhale, which is often stranded, and carrying it across the moun- 
 tains, barter it with the nations of the Plains. Whatever its origin, 
 such is its tremendous power, that a skillful hunter at a distance of 
 twenty-five or thirty feet can throw an arrow from it clean through 
 the body of a buffalo. Travellers have sometimes succeeded in 
 purchasing these bows from the Indians, but it is seldom they can 
 be persuaded to part with them, even at the most exorbitant prices.] 
 
 Both the spies were surprised and disappointed at the production, 
 by Mary Murdock, of a simple bow, after their curiosity and expecta- 
 tion had been raised to the highest pitch by the mysterious contents 
 of the muslin case. Their fair companion, however, did not give 
 them much time to indulge in their newly awakened emotions ; 
 for, taking the bow and several arrows in her hand, she entirely 
 enveloped herself in the white sheet, ordering them to do the same, 
 and to follow her at a distance of fifteen or twenty feet. 
 
 A moment more, and she was moving stealthily, but rapidly 
 toward the sentinel, who, poor fellow, thinking only of the loved ones 
 that would greet his return home, tramped back and forth, all uncon- 
 scious of the fate that was approaching him. 
 
44 A OAP m THE UNICCf LINE. 
 
 The demon girl was within hearing of her intended victim as the 
 latter, for a moment forgetting himself, said aloud : 
 
 " I wonder if Jane got my last money all right, and got something 
 for the boys out of it ?" 
 
 Half his sentence only was spoken before the terrible being, whose 
 fiercely burning eyes were fastened upon him, dropped on one knee, 
 placed an arrow on her bow-string, and raised the weapon for an 
 aim. The next instant the passing wind bore away on its icy wings 
 the twang of the bow-string, and the low death-groan of a gallant 
 soldier of the Union. 
 
 No angel of Heaven turned aside the winged shaft from the picket's 
 heart, and he sank dead on the snowy winding-sheet at his feet, with 
 his last yearning words for Jane and his boys trembling on his lips. 
 
 The murderess, after the commission of the horrible deed, quickly 
 rose from her kneeling position, and stepped back to her two com- 
 panions, who had halted. 
 
 " Now then," whispered she, " is your opportunity to go forward. 
 You will meet with no opposition." 
 
 "But there is most likely another line," quickly suggested one of 
 the spies. 
 
 " If there were a hundred more lines," replied Mary, "you could 
 pass them all now. The difficulty is all gone ; press forward. I will 
 
 await your return here." 
 
 " Wait here?" said both, in one breath, "why we shall be several 
 days away." 
 
 " I will await you here !" repeated Mary emphatically. " Hasten 
 forward ; all is clear for you. I may go no further." 
 
 Doubly mystified, but impelled by a power they could not resist, 
 the two spies obeyed the order of their companion, and, quickly 
 passing through the gap that Mary Murdock had opened for them, 
 they were soon within the lines of the Army of the Potomac, making 
 their way to Washington. 
 
 When they were gone out of sight, the demon girl, uttering some 
 wild incantation in a low tone, cast away the sheet that she had fold- 
 ed about her when about to cross the field toward the picket. As 
 she did so, she muttered : 
 
 " Silly men ! they know not who it was that assisted them on their 
 errand of wickedness! But I must get my arrow," continued the 
 speaker, turning and hurrying back to where the unfortunate volun- 
 teer lay dead. 
 
 "Much depended on your death, soldier !" she said, in almost a 
 bated whisper, gazing down upon the pale, upturned face. " And,'' 
 
THE DEAD PICKET. 45 
 
 » 
 
 contiaued she, as she plucked the arrow from the breast of the 
 corpse, " if no adverse influcQce is at hand, all is well with treason !" 
 'Thus speaking, Mary Murdock stepped lightly away as though she 
 had committed no crime, and wended her way back to the farm- 
 house at which she had purcliased the sheets. 
 
 When the guard, in making their next round, came upon the 
 frozen body of the Union soldier, who had thus fallen a victim to 
 midnight assassination, they examined his wound, and decided that 
 he had been shot by some skulking, cowardly "bushwhacker." But 
 the pickets on either side of him were ready to make oath that not a 
 single shot had been fired during the whole night. Some thought of 
 examining the locality, within musket range, for footprints ; but this 
 waa concluded to be useless. In the first place, the wind had been 
 so high that footprints w^tq, most likely, all drifted over ; and even 
 if found, of what utility would the discovery be ? Justice could not 
 be meted out to the dastard culprit. 
 
 So, with soldiers' regrets for a comrade, the murdered picket was 
 buried, and another soldier posted in his place. 
 
 His wife Jane, and the " two boys," had received his money, and, 
 with tender solicitude for the dear one far away, battling for the 
 Union, they had well filled a box with comforts and dainties for 
 " Private James Ilallowell." 
 
 The box came, but, alas ! it was unopened by the intended recipient. 
 The Captain of Hallowell's company wrote to the widow and 
 orphans an account of the murdered husband and father, and added 
 what comfort he could in the postcript, that " the grave, where the 
 body lay, had been marked." 
 
 Sad, sad comfort, indeed, to those whose poverty forbade even a 
 sorrowing visit to the loved one's sepulchre. 
 
 -•-•-*- 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A STARTLESTG PROMISE FULFILLED. 
 
 After the departure of Mr. "Wetherill from the presence of Mr. 
 Lincoln and General McClellan, the minds of both the latter were 
 too much occupied with matters of public importance to remember, 
 for any length of time, the statement made by the former, that he 
 
46 A STARTLING PROMISE FULFILLED. 
 
 would visit each of them before morning. Consequently, upon retir- 
 ing, to snatch, if possible, some slight refreshment from slumber, 
 neither one of them took the precaution of surrounding himself with 
 the guards proposed by Mr. Wetherill. 
 
 General McClellan, after wishing the President good night, parted 
 from him, and took his way over to his own headquarters ; while Mr. 
 Lincoln, weighed down with the onerous cares of his public position, 
 and the grief attendant upon the death of Willie, his son, cast 
 himself into an arm-chair that was in an anti-chamber of the apart- 
 ment in which the interview had been held. He fell asleep much 
 sooner than he -expected, and slumbered soundly for about two 
 hours. At the expiration of this time, he was gently awakened by 
 a hand that was laid upon his shoulder. He was on his feet in an 
 instant, and fully aroused. 
 
 " Ah ! Mr. Lincoln, I beg your pardon for "disturbing you ; but, 
 as you said you would be pleased to see me in my ' startling visit,' 
 as you were pleased to call it, I felt obliged to take the liberty." 
 
 The person who uttered these words was indeed none other than 
 Mr. Wetherill, who had conversed with the President so shortly be- 
 fore. Mr. Lincoln, though he had thrown a joking sort of gentle 
 irony into the word startling, when he had used it to Mr, Wetherill 
 regarding the present visit, was indeed startled. Upon entering 
 the anti-chamber in which he was, he had locked the door communi- 
 cating with the larger apartment, and thus^ as he thought, secured 
 himself from intrusion. 
 
 If his visitor had been a hona fide spirit, Mr. Lincoln could have 
 satisfied himself with the explanation that the apparition was the 
 result of his own harrassed state of mind, or he could have gone 
 even farther, and allowed the ability generally claimed for appari- 
 tions, of passing doubly-locked and barred doors without the slight- 
 est inconvenience, or asking of leave. But there before him stood 
 Mr. Wetherill, in his own proper, fleshly form. The President, 
 with the cool courage of his nature, reached forth his hand to take 
 that of Mr. Wetherill,. to convince his own senses that they were not 
 deceived. 
 
 " Well, really, Mr. Wetherill," said he, addressing the latter, •* I 
 must confess myself a great deal more startled than if I had seen you 
 in the spirit, for then I could, perhaps, have satisfied myself, or 
 rather mystified myself, with an application of those half-beclouded 
 doctrines of Mesmerism and Spiritualism. You must certainly 
 possess some strange powers that have never yet been brought to 
 the notice of the world." 
 
MR. LINCOLN MYSTIFIED. fiWT 
 
 " I saw from your manner this evening, your Excellency," 
 answered Mr. Wetberill, " that you deemed at least a portion of 
 what I said to be the language of an unreasonable enthusiast. 
 Therefore I resolved upon this visit. I will not detain you now, 
 your Excellency, longer than to receive your assurance of an inter- 
 view to-morrow at two o'clock, privately, if you choose, or in the 
 presence of General McClellan." 
 
 " May I name a condition thereof, Mr, Wetherill ?" asked the 
 President. 
 
 '' That is a right you already enjoy, your Excellency," replied the 
 other, '4 and, therefore, needs not my assent; name it, if you please." 
 
 " Then, will you," returned Mr. Lincoln, " give me an extra proof 
 of your mysterious power by making your way into my presence, at 
 the ho.ur you have set to-morrow, without the knowledge of any 
 one?" 
 
 " "With pleasure," was the prompt reply ; " and I will, besides, 
 add what I said this evening, that you may place as many guards 
 about you as you choose, and give them express orders not to admit 
 me, yet you shall see me in my own proper person at two o'clock, or 
 as near it as possible." 
 
 " Really, you astound me, Mr. Wetherill," rejoined the President ; 
 "but, to make the proof completely satisfactory, I will issue the 
 orders you suggest, and General McClellan and I will await you in 
 the next apartment." 
 
 " Very good, your Excellency, I must now, however, leave y«u to 
 fulfil my promise to the General. I will be punctual. Good night." 
 
 " Good night, sir," replied the President, as his visitor turned to 
 leave the room. 
 
 The only exit, as we have recorded, was the door leading into 
 the larger apartment, in which the first interview had been held 
 between the President, General McClellan, and Mr. Wetherill. This 
 Mr. Wetherill opened without the slightest difficulty — a fact that 
 served only to increase the President's astonishment, for, as he had 
 been sleeping when his visitor came in, he did not know whether the 
 entrance of the latter had been effected by way of the door or 
 window. The bolt that secured the former always made a grating 
 noise when turned, and would certainly have roused any slumberer. 
 So deeply mystified was the President altogether, that he was entire- 
 ly at a loss what to think of the mysterious Mr. Wetherill. 
 
 The latter, upon leaving Mr. Lincoln, set out straightway for the 
 headquarters of General McClellan, who though, as we have pre- 
 viously said, too much occupied with his duties to order an 
 
'4S A VISIT TO GENERAL M'CLELLAN. 
 
 extra guard, was nevertheless regularly guarded, as military dis- 
 cipline required. The indefatigable soldier had merely thrown 
 himself upon a lounge, slept about an hour and a half, and then risen 
 to prosecute the details of a plan that he was maturing. Two senti- 
 nels, fully armed, stood immediately outside the door of their com- 
 mander's room, and rough usage awaited that man who should dare 
 to force a passage into the presence of the General without his order. 
 
 McClellan was attentively engaged pointing ofif a military map at 
 the moment that the voice of Mr. Wetherill fell upon his ear, and so 
 engrossed was he at the moment, that the intruder was obliged to 
 repeat his salutation ere the General's attention was called from his 
 task. His astonishment was most profound as he thus beheld, in the 
 presence of Mr. Wetherill, the fulfilment of an assertion to which he 
 had not attached any extraordinary importance; his statement to 
 Mr. Lincoln of his boyhood remembrance to the contrary notwith- 
 standing. 
 
 Mr. Wetherill, after exchanging a few words with McClellan, and 
 shaking his hand in the same manner as he had the President's, in 
 order to assure him that there was no illusion, took his departure. 
 The General, who accompanied him to the doorway, and "passed'^ 
 him out, was as much amazed as Mr. Lincoln had been, at the start- 
 ling fact which had thus been brought so conspicuously to his notice. 
 
 This amazement was rather increased by two o'clock in the after- 
 noon of the next day, at which time he met, according to appoint- 
 meq^, Mr. Lincoln and the singular Wetherill. The anxiety of both 
 may be inferred from the fact that they were in the apartment where 
 the conference was to be held, fully a quarter of an hour before the 
 appointed time. The President had completed such arrangements 
 that it would be impossible for any one to reach his presence, at 
 least by any of the hocus-pocus means that magicians might employ, 
 and both he and General McClellan awaited the appearance of 
 Wetherill with much anxiety. 
 
 Two o'clock came and passed ; it was five minutes after, and, as 
 the President held his watch in his hand, he said to McClellan, with 
 a smile : 
 
 "Our mysterious friend, doubtless owing to the barriers I have 
 put in- his way, is not very punctual. And I am inclined to think 
 that he will miss the appointment altogether, through my fault, eh ? 
 I must certainly make an apology to him if he chances near me 
 again." 
 
 " No apology whatever is needed, your Excellency," exclaimed the 
 voice of Wetherill at this moment. 
 
TUK PRESIDENT DISAPPOINTED. 
 
 49 
 
 Mr. Lincoln and McClellan, who had been looking toward tho 
 door by which they expected their guest to come, both turned as 
 the voice fell upon their ears, and there, standing in the middle of tho 
 apartment, was Wetherill. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 6ENt:ral m'clellan makes a singular discovery. 
 
 The President glanced first at the Englishman, and then at Gener- 
 al McClellan, with a look that said, as clearly as words could have 
 done, "Well, I will have to shoulder the responsibility of the 
 
 mistake." 
 
 Then, stepping forward, he took the hand of the former, and said, 
 in his honest, straight-forward manner : 
 
 " Mr. Wetherill, I must acknowledge fully the powers you claim. 
 I took every precaution to prevent your ingress, and yet you are 
 here. But pray be seated, and let us have some talk about this 
 
 "matter." 
 
 The visitor, acceding to the request of Mr. Lincoln, placed himself 
 in one of three chairs close at hand, while his two companions took 
 
 the others. 
 
 "Now, M'r. Wetherill," resumed the President, after a short pause, 
 " if I understand you aright, you have come from England for the 
 purpose of securing, if possible, the girl of whom Lord Palmerston 
 writes so strongly." 
 
 " That is the object of my journey, your Excellency," rejoined 
 Mr. Wetherill, without hesitation. 
 
 " And she possesses powers of the same mysterious character a3 
 you have given such satisfactory evidence of possessing yourself, 
 does she?" 
 
 " She does. At present, however, her powers— which are all used 
 for the furtherance of evil— are limited to a sphere, or circle, so to 
 speak, of smaller dimensions than my own. Yet there have been 
 occasions during my experience with her, that her forces, or rather 
 the forces possessing her, have been stronger or more positive than 
 mine. With the exception of these occasions, I have always been 
 able to control her by constant attention and prompt action." 
 
50 THE DEMON AT WORK, 
 
 " Well, Mr. Wetlierill," said General McClellan, " from what you 
 Lave said previously, I should judge that she is now beyond your 
 control, owing to the fact of your sudden illness. Can she, while 
 thus freed from your influence, do harm, that the exercise of your 
 own powers could not annul or defeat ?" 
 
 " Should she once consummate any plot of evil," returned Mr. 
 Wetherill, "no power of mine could undo it, or even palliate its efi'ects. 
 But, if I throw my influence around her ere this consumation has 
 been reached, I can defeat her most promising projects, not without 
 a struggle, it is true ; and the nearer completion she should have 
 her plot, the more terrible would this struggle be." 
 
 " And are these amazing powers, Mr. Wetherill," asked the Presi- 
 dent, with the deepest interest in his tones, " the fruit of science ?" 
 
 " Not in the common idea of the word science, your Excellency, 
 but they are the fruit of deep and untiring investigations of those 
 mental sciences, which, like the productions of Milton, are more 
 talked of than studied." 
 
 "And you say they are within the reach of any ordinary mind 
 that will make the necessary researches." 
 
 "1 firmly believe they are, your Excellency." 
 
 " And has Lord Palmerston ever made any of the investigations 
 of which you speak?" 
 
 "He has, your Excellency, at least so far as to convince himself' 
 of the truth and rationality of the doctrine or science." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln here read with slowness and care the nobleman's let- 
 ter, which had been left with him by Mr. Wetherill on the previous 
 evening. When he had finished, he remarked, with much emphasis : 
 
 " The more I think, and the more I hear of this singular being, 
 Mr. Wetherill, the more thrillingly interested am I in her. Certainly, 
 a gentleman of Lord Palmerston's age and attainments would not 
 use such a phrase as 'diabolical phenomenon of Nature,' in regard 
 to a young and beautiful girl, without some good foundation there- 
 for. And I must acknowledge, sir, that her powers, and also your 
 own, have awakened in me a feeling that I can hardly describe. It 
 is not a superstition, it is not an alarm ; and yet there is somewhat 
 of each of these mixed up in it. Perhaps you can imagine what it 
 is." 
 
 " I think I can, your Excellency," replied Mr. Wetherill. 
 
 General McClellan was at this moment about to make some re- 
 mark; but he was suddenly interrupted by Mr. Wetherill, who, 
 starting involuntarily to his feet, exclaimed : 
 
 " She is at her evil work ! I feel her influence ; not directly, but 
 
A DIFFICULTY. 6^ 
 
 through one or two intermediate parties. The stroke, whatever it is, 
 Gener;\l, is directed toward the army under your command, and it is 
 successful." 
 
 General McClellan glanced at the President, and the President 
 glanced at him with a baffled expression of countenance, in which 
 many an observer would have said there was a shade of suspicion. 
 
 " I must set out for Kichmond early in the niorning," continued 
 Mr. Wetherill, "for which purpose, I beg your Excellency, you and 
 also General McClellan, wik furnish me with authority to leave and 
 re-enter the lines of the Union army," 
 
 Mr. Lincoln has, during his public career, won for himself the 
 reputation of a very direct man ; and on the occasion to which we 
 refer, he did not make an exception to this. 
 
 *'Mr. Wetherill," said he, as the Englishman ceased speaking, "you 
 are, of course, well aware of the delicate position in which I am 
 placed, as the chief officer of the United States Government, espe- 
 cially regarding one of your own nation. You are equally aware that 
 there is between the American and British nations a hostile feeling, 
 which, unfortunately, the latter daily renders more bitter. Under 
 these circumstances, notwithstanding the fact that you have come 
 here to render the Union a most valuable assistance, it is necessary, 
 before you receive the power for which you ask, that you go through 
 a certain formula in the presence of the British Minister, Lord 
 Lyons. To this, both on our account and also on your own, I hope 
 you will make no objections." 
 
 "None, whatever, your Excellency," promptly rejoined Mr. 
 Wetherill; "I can fully appreciate the delicacy of your position, and 
 the only regret I have to express in regard to the matter is, the 
 delay that most necessarily occur." 
 
 " No delay, scarcely, at all, Mr. "Wetherill," answered the Presi- 
 dent ; " I will order the carriage, and we will all ride over to see him 
 forthwith." 
 
 " Very good, your Excellency, let us go at once," 
 
 The President rang his bell, ordered the servant who answered 
 the summons to have the carriage got out immediately, and, within 
 ten minutes, he and . General McClellan and Mr. Wetherill were on 
 their way to visit Lord Lyons. 
 
 Unfortunately, the British Minister had gone out only a few min- 
 utes previously, to attend to some private business, ,and was not 
 expected back until late in the evening. •■ ' 
 
 This was a portion of the delay of which Mr. Wetherill had spoken 
 as likely to occur. But it was unavoidable, as Mr. Lincoln's 
 
62 MR. WETHERILL ON A CHASE. 
 
 position in regard to public matters required the utmost dis- 
 creetness, notwithstanding the autograph letter of assurance from 
 Lord Palmerston concerning Mr. Wetherill, and notwithstanding, 
 also, Mr. Wetherill's own assertions. 
 
 The Englishman saw at a glance exactly how Mr. Lincoln waa 
 placed, and immediately acquiesced in the necessary detention, re- 
 marking, however, at the same time, that he feared some evil would 
 result therefrom. A visit to Lord Lyons was fixed for the next 
 morning, and the three once more parted, the President returning 
 to his mansion, Mr. Wetherill to his hotel, and General McClellan 
 to his headquarters. 
 
 The following day, all were punctually present, and were received 
 by the British Minister with his usual affability. Lord Palmerston's 
 letter he perused with the deepest interest and surprise, after pro- 
 nouncing it to be genuine. He then entered into a somewhat 
 lengthy conversation with Mr. Wetherill regarding Mary Murdock 
 and Lord Palmerston, upon the conclusion of which he assured Mr. 
 Lincoln and General McClellan that he felt every confidence in 
 vouching for Mr. Wetherill's sincerity. 
 
 The President and the British minister now engaged for a short 
 time in private conversation, the result of which was that Lord 
 Lyons inquired of Mr. Wetherill if he had any objection to passing 
 his word as to the object of his journey. 
 
 Some moments were spent by the Englishman in consideration, 
 and then he replied : 
 
 " Under ordinary circumstances, your Lordship, I would most 
 positively refuse anything of the sort ; but as I fully appreciate the 
 difficulty and delicacy of his Excellency's position, and also that of 
 General McClellan, I yield a most ready assent to the requirement." 
 
 " That is all that is necessary then, Mr. W etherill, and I thank you 
 for your candor," said Mr. Lincoln, stepping forward, and taking 
 the Englishman's hand, "General McClellan," continued he, "will 
 furnish you with the required passes, and if at any time, morning, 
 noon, or midnight, you should wish to see me, your card sent in will 
 gain for you a prompt audience." 
 
 General McClellan immediately wrote the ' general ' pass, and 
 placed it in Mr. Wetherill's hand, with some remark in reference to 
 the strange being that the Englishman had made such a long 
 journey to capture. 
 
 Bidding his distinguished companions good morning, Mr. Weth- 
 erill took his departure, and lost no time in placing the now historic 
 river Potomac behind him. 
 
a 
 
 o 
 
 00 
 
 o 
 
 9 
 
 T3 
 
 ci 
 
 p 
 
 5 
 
 •4-* 
 
 o 
 
 s 
 
 r3 
 d 
 o 
 
 "a 
 o 
 
 
 o 
 
 13 
 o 
 
 to 
 
 tJO 
 
 e3 
 
 OD 0> 
 
 
 s 
 
 O OO 
 
 o *« 
 
A STAUTLIKG DIPCOVKTIY. fl 
 
 General McClellan having, by tliis date, about consummated his 
 phtns for a grand strategic movement against the Kcbel army of 
 Virginia, could hardly spare the time that lie had given in connection 
 with Mr. Wotherill, and, therefore, after giving the latter the re- 
 quired pass, he hastened back to his headquarters. 
 
 Here he remained, busily engaged, for several hours, with staff and 
 other officers. At the end of this time, finding himself alone, he 
 went to a certain drawer, in which he had been in the habit of keep- 
 ing his most valuable and important papers. In this drawer, that 
 was furnished with a peculiar lock, of which he alone had the key, 
 was, in truth, the success or failure of the commander's plans; and he, 
 therefore, guarded it with rigorous care. Not only had lie thus 
 securely locked these valuable papers away from sight, but . he had 
 also added the precaution of sealing each one up se['arately. 
 
 The moment he took them from the drawer, it struck him that 
 they were not in the exact order in which he had left them; and a 
 closer examination showed that each had been moit adroitly opened, 
 without disfiguring the seal in the sliglitest degi'ee. 
 
 One after another, the General opened and examined them closely. 
 As he picked up the last, he felt within the folds thereof a small, 
 hard substance, that proved to be a diaiwmclf Whether it had fallen 
 from a breast-pin or finger-ring, the astonished General could not 
 decide; but that it hjid not been dropped by himselr', was certain, as 
 he never used diamonds. There was another fact, too, whicii called 
 his attention. The document in which this stray gem was concealed, 
 bore evidence of having been crumpled somewhat, as though some 
 person copying its contents had been suddenly alarmed, and attempted 
 to thrust it quickly back into its place. 
 
 As McClellan held the paper in one hand, and the precious stone in 
 the other, regarding both with feelings that can be easily understood, 
 a thought suddenly flashed upon his mind that caused him to start. 
 He remembered that Mr. Wetherill, the Englishman, to whom he 
 had BO recently given a "general pass," wore a diamond finger-ring, 
 the brilliancy of which had attracted his attention at each interview, 
 except that at the office of Lord Lyons. There he noticed that the 
 ring uas minus its sparkling gam. 
 
 The conclusion was almost inevitable, that Wetherill was th« 
 owner of the brilliant, and that he had lo.it it u-liile rausaclcing th» 
 eoateats of i/ie drawer, and not noticed its loss at the time. 
 3 
 
6S rOBWARD, ARKT OF THB POTOMAC I 
 
 CHAPTER y. 
 
 FORWARD, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC ! 
 
 General McClellan's first impulse was to order an instant pur- 
 suit and capture of Wetherill ; but the latter was bj this time safely 
 on the other side of the river, and, besides, the power be had exhi 
 bited, to both the Ge leral and Mr. Lincoln, of rendering himself 
 actually invisible, convinced McClellan that a chase would only prove 
 • fruitless. Strange to say, also, though the circumstantial evidence of 
 the diamond was so positive against Wetherill, yet the very recollec- 
 tion of the Englishman's almost supernatural power gave the General 
 considerable relief; for it induced him to reason thus: If "Wetherill 
 had originally designed to act treacherously by the Government, he 
 most certainly had no need to make himself known at all ; continual 
 concealment would have been his surest safety. Added to tins, was 
 the double weight of Lord Palmerston's voucher and the recommen- 
 dation of Lord Lyons. 
 
 While pondering the matter, McClellan all at once called to m'n\d 
 the exclamation uttered by Wetherill, on the night previous, in the 
 presence of Mr. Lincoln and himself, concerning Mary Murdock, or, 
 rather, her seco vlary influence. The powers of this my:?terious, fear- 
 ful girl were, according to her guardian, little inferior to his own ; 
 and perhaps it had been her hands that had thus violated the docu- 
 ments in the private drawer. In either case, whoever was the 
 culprit, the result would undoubtedly be the same, viz., the informa- 
 tion contained in the documents, and especially valuable to the rebel 
 commanders, would certainly be conveyed to the latter. 
 
 Had he been fully prepared to move at once, General McClellan 
 would not have cared much for tlic discovery ; but he was waiting 
 for other parties to perform certain duties, which they were delaying 
 from day to day. Over the**e parties he ccmld exercise no control, 
 but waii himself depcudent upon their action in his own movements. 
 
 Among the papers in the drawer, was President Lincoln's first war 
 order, dated Jaiiujiry 27rh, and peremptorily commanding a general 
 advance upon the rebellion, by the Union Army and Navy, on Febru- 
 ary 22d. McClellan f >lt confident that, if the fact of the existence 
 of this order reached the rebel commanders, and also his own plans 
 of an advance on Richmond by way of the Peninsula, he would 
 
LIK0Or>X's ADVICIK TO Jf'CLKLLAir. 99 
 
 quickly be informod of it by tbe evacuation of tbeir stronghold al 
 Manassas, and that also at Columbus. 
 
 Without delay, General McClellan sought Mr. Lincoln, and cora- 
 muiiicat<?d to him the facts in relation to the violated papers. H» 
 alrio imparte«i to him his own thoughts a^out the matter. 
 
 " It i.s too bad, indeed, General,'' replied the President, *' it is too 
 bd that, just as we arc about to reach a consummation of our plans, 
 our joy and hope are dashed to earth by skulking traitors. But, as 
 I told you when you first camo to Washington, General, we are 
 const;\utly surround«'d by them. H^>wever, we must do the best we 
 can. If the Rebels have obtained tiie information, and take advan- 
 tage of it, we'll have to peg awaiy at them any way." 
 
 General MeClelLin had expected correctl}', for a week did not pasa 
 ere his scouts brought iutelligen>*e to him of certain strange move- 
 ments on the part of the Rebel army, looking toward a general fall- 
 ing back, especially with the Army of Virginia. The intended 
 surprise, therefore, which, if successful, would have been the grandee* 
 achievement of the War, was frustrated; and all that remained to 
 MeClellan was, as the President had suggested, to do the best h* 
 (X^uld, and "peg away at the Rebels any wav." 
 
 He at once ordered an advance by General Banks, who according- 
 ly pushed his column toward Winchester. With the most strenuous- 
 exertions on his part, however, MeClellan could not get the main 
 body of his army in motion until the Ten\>h of March, when, with 
 wildly beating hearts, and with the prayers and blessings of the 
 whole loyal nation following it, the Grand Army of the Potomac 
 commenced its memorable series of marches, campaigns, victories, 
 and disasters. This is no place to discuss the qualifications or the 
 shortcomings of the officers who have alternately commanded thiii 
 splendid host; but the nation must join with us when, while remind- 
 ing it of Antietam and Gettysburg, we exclaim : 
 
 "God bles.s the Army of the Potomac I" 
 
 But to return to our narrative. 
 
 As we have previously recorded, Mr. Wetherill, upon leaving tha 
 office of Lonl Lyons, armc^ with the "general pass," of MeClellan, 
 was not long in placing the historic river Potomac behind him, nor 
 was he much longer in placing the outer Union picket line in the 
 same position. It must not be supposed for an instant, however, 
 that the ta.«k before him was an ea^sy one. It was, on the contrary, 
 one requiring the most extreme caution and nerve; for, though hia 
 powers were so much stronger than those possessed by his terrible 
 ward, still he might, if not cautious, find himself taken by the lattec 
 
•i MART MURDOCK AMOXQ miKXDS. 
 
 at a disadvantage, and in that case, he was perfectl j aware that hia 
 doom, at least on earth, was sealed. He therefore halted at Matilda- 
 ville, at which place we shall leave him for awhile, and once mors 
 return to the beautiful demon, Mary Murdock, and the two spiea, 
 whose passage through the Union lines she had rendered so compar- 
 atively easy. 
 
 *•♦ 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE DEATH SLUMBER. 
 
 Mart Murdock, upon returning to the farm-house at which she 
 had purchased the three sheets wherewith to disguise herself and 
 companions while approaching the Union picket line, immediately 
 retired to a chamber that the farmer's wife had, according to her 
 request, made ready for her. 
 
 The proprietor of this house was a most bitter secessionist, and 
 ▼as, at the time of which W3 write, away at Richmonl, attending to 
 8ome flour contracts for the Rebel government. His family were as 
 firmly attached to the ^o-called Confederacy as he was, and conse- 
 quently our beautiful demon was treated with the utmost considera- 
 tion. 
 
 Upon reaching her room, Mary Murdock cast herself upon the 
 soft, downy couch tliat invite I her to repose, and scarcely had her 
 long, soft tresses spread themselves upon the snowy pillow, than he 
 eyelids closed over her blue orbs, and she slept! Wbat a picture of. 
 ravishing beauty and innocent purity did she present to the casual 
 eye. Her face, oval in form, and like the summer blush of day- 
 dawn, in its mingling white and carmine; her long eyelashes 
 poetically fringing their lids; her delicately penciled brows break- 
 ing, with a strange charm, the sweep of marble forehead ; and her 
 Bweetly appearing lips gently parted, as though magnanimously 
 just to the pearly teeth within. One hand rested carelessly by her 
 side, while the other, — the one that had so shortly before guided the 
 deadly shaft to the Union soldier's life,— lay softly, like a snow flake, 
 above the heart that regularly pulsed her half-discovered bosom. 
 
 The lovely sleeper, in form an angel, in soul a demon, had not 
 ■lumbered a minute ere, her breathing became visibly less strong; 
 
Il stranok slumbsb. 65 
 
 and, before tho second minute had passed, the most delicate testa 
 could have shown no life in her. Ker limbs were rigid as hewa 
 marble, and her heart as still as Doath's potent touch could ever 
 make it. 
 
 Previous to retiring, she had, with much emphasis, stated to her 
 hostess, that, on no account whatever, did she wish to be disturbed 
 until noon of the succeeding day. And, until within half an hour of 
 the time named, did slie remain in the inanimate state we have 
 described. At this hour, however, she soemed gradually to resusci- 
 tate, though still remaining asleep. Iler life came back much more 
 gradually than it had deserted her. It returned without sudden 
 shock, and set her physical forces in motion, just as the skillfully 
 ruled steam of the engineer puts his shafts and pulleys in motion, 
 slowly and in regular order. 
 
 The moment her vitality seemed to be fully restored to its original 
 strength, Mary Murdock suddenly awoke, and rose from her couch 
 without an instant's delay ; not with the heavy languor of a persoa 
 who has been profoundly slumbering for a long time, but with the 
 restless vigor of some one who, having been absent awhile, steps 
 quickly back in search of something. 
 
 " Vain egotist !" she muttered, as she arose ; " he imagines himself 
 my master, my superior ! but a higher power guides us both, and ho 
 id, as well as I, a mere puppet of that Being whose plans angels, men, 
 and demons alike are forced to accomplish. True they say I am 
 doomed to pass from earth by his hand ; but if I am, I will not go 
 alone. And until I do go, my pleasure shall be unalloyed by deeds 
 of goodness or mercy." 
 
 While speaking, Mary Murdock stepped to where she had laid 
 down the muslin case containing the weapon with which she had 
 shed the blood of private James Hallowell. Taking from it the 
 arrow whose point and blade were deeply ensanguined, she con- 
 tinued : 
 
 "Shot, on picket duty! ha! ha! Well done, faithful shaft, your 
 flight has carried sorrow and want to one household, and will yet do 
 the same to thousands of other households, South well as North. 
 Your keen point has breached the bank that hedged in the Union, 
 and has made a way for Treason's flood to rush through, and 
 Treason should make the most of it ere the ebb comes !" 
 
 At this moment a daughter of her hostess knocked at the chamber 
 door very gently, and called out, in tones equally gentle : 
 
 "Miss Murdoekl" 
 
 " I have risen, my dear, and will come down in a moment or two,* 
 
4K THE FARUBR's WIFB DISCOVERED. 
 
 answered the fair guest, still holding the blood-stained arrow in her 
 liand, but not moving a step toward the door. 
 
 " Mother will have dinner on the table, then, by the time you get 
 down," 
 
 With this rejoinder, the farmer's daughter tripped lightly away 
 down stairs. 
 
 Meanwhile, Mary Murdock hastily cleaned the arrow, and re- 
 turned it to the muslin case. This done, she descended to the dinner- 
 room, where Mrs. Tibbett, her hostess, was busily engaged, as-Viated 
 by her daughter, in setting upon the board the various dishes com- 
 posing a good, substantial form- house meal. 
 
 With that graceful ease of manner which belongs only to these of 
 the most refined class of society, Mrs. Tibbett's lovely visitor seated 
 herself at the table, and partook sparingly of the fare which was set 
 before her in such abundance. While thus engaged, she kept up a 
 continual and varied conversation, so pleasing to Mrs. Tibbett and 
 her children, that they were delighted with her. 
 
 Muibh in this manner Mary Murdock passed away three days, 
 never during the time mentioned, however, going oulaide of the 
 farm-house ; but, on the contrary, remaining alone in her own room 
 for many hours together. How she engaged herself while thus 
 alone, Mrs. Tibbett — who was endowed by Nature with at lea** 
 double the amount of curiosity generally allotted to women — becanae 
 very anxious to ascertain. She, therefore, determine*^ to conceal 
 herself in her guest's chamber, and watch her. With this, as she 
 considered it, innocent object, she took advantage of an opportunity 
 that offered just after dinner, to slip into Miss Mundock's room. 
 There she ensconced herself within a large, old-fashioned clothes- 
 press, and had just begun to deem herself wonderfully sharp, when the 
 idoor of her asylum was suddenly thrown open. As this was done, 
 Mrs. Tibbett was confronted by Mary Murdock, who, with one of 
 her peculiar, fiendish looks, pointed silently to the doorway through 
 which her hostess had entered the chamber. Mrs. Tibbett, nearly 
 terrified into spasms by that terribly malignant countenance, obeyed 
 instantly and mechanically. No one witnessed the afiair ; and the 
 farmer's wife, burying her chagrin with her defeated curiosity, re- 
 Bolved, wisely enough, to say nothing about what .had occurred. 
 
 On the night of the third day, Mary Murdock left the farm-house 
 at rather a late hour, and took her way across the co'mtry to a spot 
 close to where she had murdered the Union soldier, James HallowelL 
 With her she carried the muslin case that had so excited the wonder 
 of the two Rebel spies, and, upon coming within reach of the Federal 
 
BIX MORE VICTIMS. 67 
 
 '^w'.ket line, she undid it, and took therefrom the fatal white bow, 
 A few inoraents sudicod for her to fit the string and choose an 
 arrow, and then, half whispering one of her wild incantations, the 
 gtartling creature hurried forward to her work of blood. Soon, in 
 the grayish light of the night, she saw a Union soldier faithfully per- 
 forming his duty of guarding the approaches to the army, while here 
 and there, on either side of him, she could just distinguish the 
 moving shadows of his trusty comrades, aud the dim, momentary 
 glittering of their bayonets. 
 
 In a moment more, the demon was aroused within her, and her 
 eyes began to burn with hellish fire as, muttering sorrw cabalistic 
 formulae, she hastily but noiselessly neared the doomed man she had 
 first seen. She carried three arrows, the last of which she sent on its 
 errand of murder almost before its fellow-shafts had ceased to quiver 
 in the breasts of two Union pickets. With a ruthless delight, the 
 horrible being bounded forward and plucked the blood-stained shafts 
 from her victims, and sent each on its second flight ere she stayed 
 her hand. 
 
 In front of, and some fifty yards distant from, the positions that 
 iTad been held by the murdered pickets, was a deep gully, or rather 
 fls.sure in the ground, whose sides were thickly grown with bushes 
 and dwarfed trees. There was neither entrance nor exit to this 
 fissure, and its depth even the most adventurous never settled. The 
 more superstitious inhabitants of that region often declared that, 
 many years ago, smoke, and even flames, had been seen to issue from 
 it, while deep rumblings were often heard far down between its 
 rugged walls. 
 
 This singular and mysterious gulf offered a fitting casket in which 
 the darkest deeds of blood could be forever hidden from the world, 
 and from some motive or other, Mary Murdoek suddenly resolved to 
 cast the bodies of her victims into its yawning jaws. With a 
 strength and ease that no physical frame of three times her size 
 could boast, this girl demon seized the bodies, one after another, 
 hurried them to the edge of the abyss, and tumbled them, muskets 
 and all, down, down, far down, until the faint, dull sounds of their 
 falling failed to reach the ear. 
 
 "Missing! Deserted I ha! that will add a pang or two to some 
 one's sorrow r 
 
 These words came gloatingly from between the lips of the beauti- 
 ful murderess, as she turned away from the fissure after hurling 
 down the last of the six bodies. 
 
 It so happened that four of the six dead soldiers had, just befbra 
 
1SS THE SPIES AND TnSlR DEMON TRIEND. 
 
 beinf" detailed for picket dutj, come out of punishment for some 
 offence of which they had asseverated their inno<^!ence. When, 
 therefore, the officer in charge of tlie relief, who chanced also to bo 
 aware of the facts, found their posts vacant, and no signs of their 
 bodies or arms about, he immediately concluded that they had in 
 anger deserted to the enemy, after persuading their two comrades to 
 join them in their perfidy. Deep and strong were the curses uttered 
 against the absent soldiers by their incensed comrades ; and an entry 
 was made on the roll opposite each of their names, " Deserted to the 
 JRehels" In due time, this news reached their homes and families, 
 and overwhelmed their relations and friends with shame and sorrow. 
 
 One patriotic old mother, who had sent her. son, the only prop of 
 her declining years, to battle for the country she loved, was stricken 
 to her death-bed by the news of his defection. But, as she was about 
 to expire, some good angel of God plucked the rankling thorn from 
 her heart, and she cried out, with the last breath of her earthly life : 
 
 " Thank God, my George didu't desert I" 
 
 The girl demon, whose blood-guilty hands had wrought all this 
 sorrow, did not seek to pass through the second gap that, with her 
 Strang, weapon, she had made in the line of the Army of the Poto- 
 mac ; but she quietly remained near the scene of the tragedy, await- 
 ing the coming of the two rebel spies. How she became aware of 
 the precise time at which the latter were to arrive at the designated 
 spot, was certainly through no human agency; for, since their de- 
 parture for Washington, she had held no communication with any 
 one save Mrs. Tibbett and her family. Yet, with such marvellous 
 correctness had she marked the time of their arrival that not more 
 than twenty minutes elapsed after the completion of her barbarous 
 deed, ere the spies came cautiously, like spectres, down the road. 
 
 As they approached close to where she stood, she stepped out into 
 their way so abruptly as to cause both to start back and draw their 
 revolvers. 
 
 Of this precautionary, and, to her, apparently perilous act, she 
 took not the slightest notice, but said : 
 
 " Delay not, but hasten to Richmond with the fruits you have 
 gathered. I will follow you immediately." 
 
 On the instant her companions recognized their singular friend, 
 and one of them whispered, in an anxious, warning tone: 
 
 " llist I Miss Murdock ; we must be close to the last line." 
 
 "Did I not tell you," replied she, "when I parted from you, that I 
 would await your arrival here, and take away all peril from you in 
 repassing the Union line? And I have done so/' she continiied, 
 
MORS MYSTERY, W 
 
 answering her own question, " bj slaying six men ; and, until guard 
 ia again mounted, you are as safe here as though you were in Kich- 
 mond. But I must be gone." 
 
 With these words Mary Murdock abruptly plunged away into a 
 clump of woodland close at hand, and wus quiekly lost to view. 
 
 The two rebel spies, as may readily be supposed, were meu of no 
 high standard of moral character ; yet they seemed half shocked to 
 hear a lovely young female speak so frigidly concerning six delibe- 
 rate murders committed, within the last hour, by herself. But each, 
 within his own breast, came to the conclusion that she was a murder- 
 ous raonomaniac, and tolerable only on account of the assistance sho 
 was renderin<]f, and raic'ht render, to the cause of the R'bellion. 
 
 As it would be impossible for the spies to reach a train bound to 
 Richmond until the next afternoon, thoy concluded to remain, in the 
 meantime, at the farm-house of Mr. Tibbett, They saw no more, how- 
 ever, of their singular companion, until they reached Orange Court 
 House. Here she once more joined them ; but how she had got there 
 they could not tell ; for they themselve.-j had taken the first train, and 
 had not been delayed on the road. They were certain, too, that she 
 had not been aboard previously, as, for particular reasons, they had 
 passed several times through each car. There was, therefore, but 
 one conclusion, and that a seemingly impossible one, to which they 
 could come, — that she had set out on foot, or by some carriage coa- 
 veyance, and beaten the train. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE DIAJIOND MYSTERY CLRARKD. 
 
 The beautiful demon, on entering the car in which were the two 
 rebel spies, seated herself, with a pleasant remark, between them. 
 In her hand she carried the muslin case from which they had seen 
 her draw the deadly bow and arrow that had rendered them such 
 good assistance. Now each of them noticed at the same instant that, 
 besides its regular contents, the case or bag concealed some living 
 creature. 
 
 As they glanced at it, however, Mary Murdock quickly slid her 
 hand downward until it grasped the animal, and, like a flash of 
 
70 SOMETHING CLEARED. 
 
 Fight, all motion ceased. An undefined, half vague dread took po«- 
 eessionof her two companions at this moment, and both involuntiirily 
 drew themselves somewhat from her. 
 
 Between the point at which she entered the cars and Richmond, 
 Mary Murdock was several times lost sight of by her co-laborers in 
 the Rebellion's cause. Upon reaching the Capital of the Confederacy, 
 however, they found that she intended to accompany them to see Jeff. 
 Davis. This they relished not at all, for several reasons, the strongest 
 of which was that they disliked to be obliged to acknowledge the 
 assistance that had been rendered to them by the fair but fearful 
 girl. But rid themselves of her they could not by any of the indirect 
 means they UBftd ; and their knowledge of the light in which their 
 master, Davis, regarded her, prevented them from adopting direct 
 means. So, with Fear and Envy striving for the ascendancy in their 
 breasts, they accompanied her, or, rather, she accompanied them, into 
 the presence of tke rebel President, who was consuming with anxiety 
 to hear a report of their enterprise. 
 
 " Let me have flrst," said Davis, addressing one of the spies. ** a 
 brief outline account of your adventure after you left me. You 
 must have had more tffan ordinary good fortune or assistance to 
 have obtained such valuable documents as these." 
 
 Davis, as he apojce, glanced at the fair fiend, and the spy, noting 
 the act, determined at once to give Mary Murdock her due credit, as 
 a matter of policy. 
 
 " Well, Mr. Davis," he therefore replied, " we owe our whole suc- 
 cess to Miss Murdock ; for, without her aid, I fear we would have 
 been unable to get through the Union picket line. A well-directed 
 arrow from her bow closed the eyes of a Yankee soldier iu death ; 
 and so we passed." 
 
 "A bow and arrow !" exclaimed Davis. "A most capital idea ; no 
 noise, and consequently no alarm. But," continued he, " that was 
 only the first peril overcome." 
 
 "Well, Mr. Davis," continued the spy, "from that moment out we 
 enjoyed the most remarkable good fortune. Whenever we came near a 
 sentinel, he suddenly seemed to become half stupefied ; and all the way 
 to Washington, even across the bridge, we were never once challenged, 
 though, on some occasions, we passed as close to the guard as we are 
 to you now. In Washington, to have seen us, you would have thought 
 that we were regularly recognized Yankee officials, until, one day, as 
 I was sitting in McClellan's headquarters, overhauling some of his 
 most precious documents, I felt a kind of shock come over me, a 
 thock which resembled that you receive from an electrioal battery. 
 
TUR DOUBLJC TRAITOR. 71 
 
 It was a sudden and deadly fear of discovery. I had the last paper 
 out of the drawer, and had copied nearly all of it iu short hand, at 
 the moment I experienced this strange feeling. In my trepidation I 
 crammed the document, together with another, into the drawer from 
 which I had taken it, and with such ha.ste as to crush the paper, and 
 breiik out of its setting a valuable diamond. The precious stone fell, 
 I think, among the papers in the drawer, but I did not wait to search 
 for it; the peril was too imminent; but, as I hurried from the 
 •ftpartraent, I consoled' myself with the fact that the Yankee General 
 had bought the gem at a higher price than he would relish. 
 
 *' Both of us immediately set out for Kichmond with the fruits of 
 our adventure, and reached the last Union line in the middle of the 
 night. Ilere we feared we should meet with trouble ; but our guar- 
 dian angel, Miss Murdock, had again cleared our path, by slaying six 
 Yankee pickets, with her own hand." ^' 
 
 " I thank you, in the name of the Southern Confederacy, Miss 
 Murdock," exclaimed the rebel President, turning to our heroine 
 who, during the whole conversation, had done naught but listen. 
 
 " No thanks. President Davis," replied she, in a strange tone, — 
 "such is my mission. But I would speak a few words with you pri- 
 vately," continued she, stepping to the rebel President, who instantly 
 inclined his head forward, that she might whisper in his ear. 
 
 As the beautiful but terrible girl communicated what she had to 
 say to Davis, he glanced now and then at one of the S|)ies with a kind 
 of suspicious look ; and when his fair companion had finished, he 
 turned to the other two, and said : 
 
 " Gentlemen, I will retain these valuable documents myself, instead 
 of sending you with them to either of the Departments. Meet me 
 here in the morning, at ten o'clock." 
 
 Upon receiving this intimation that the rebel President wished to 
 be alone, the spies immediately arose, and bade him and Miss Mur- 
 dock good evening. That each of these men had been deeply mys- 
 tilied by the powers exhibited by Mary Murdock, and deeply 
 enamored of her beauty, were undeniable ; but, until the present 
 moment, neither of them had deemed her more than an extraordinary 
 girl. Now, however, they began to appreciate her more correctly, 
 and a strange awe took possession of them in consequence. 
 
 When they had gone, Davis said to his fair companion: 
 
 "Surely, Miss Murdock, is that man Wilson such a double traitor 
 as that ?" 
 
 "He is. President Davis," replied Mary. "He intends to work 
 himself into your confidence by this action, and when he ascertains the 
 
78 DAVI3 MATCHED 0:?CE MORK, 
 
 plans you maj Adopt for the defeat of the Federal movements, ho 
 will instantly deaert you, carry all the information he can obtain to 
 the Union Government, sell it at a high price, and remain thereafter 
 in affluence at the North." 
 
 "It would certainly be advisable for him to do so after that," 
 remarked the rebel President, with compressed lips. "But," con- 
 tinued he, "I will secure him before morning dawns." 
 
 At this moment an aid entered the apartment, and stood awaiting 
 the leisure of Davis, who, excusing himself to the girl demon, stepped 
 to his aid. The latter said to him, in a low tone : 
 
 "Your Excellency, the gentlemen are awaiting you in your prir 
 Yate parlor." 
 
 "All, yes; well, tell them I will join them in a few moments." 
 
 Again Davis was alone with Mary Murdock. 
 
 "Miss Murdook," said he to her, " I am behind the hour that I set 
 to meet some gentlemen, on whose experience ani judgment I have 
 such dependence tiiat I advise with them on all matters of public 
 importance." 
 
 The speaker paused, in order to give the girl demon an opportu- 
 nity to excuse herself and withdraw. But, so far from having hia 
 eifpectations fulfilled, Davis was appalled by the actual result of hia 
 words. Fixing upon him her fiercely burning eyes, the terrible 
 creature exclaimed : 
 
 "Mast I again give you an example of my power to command 
 your confidence. President Davis ? Without my aid at every step of 
 the way, your two .spies, who have just quitted our presence, could 
 never have reached Washington ; and even had they done so, they 
 could not have obtained those very documents you now hold in your 
 hand. I am fully aware of the object of the meetings you hold with 
 these gentlemen you refer to. They, like yourself, are traitors. You 
 and they love to plot evil. My pleasure it has been, and still shall 
 be, to assist you. Henceforward let there bo no lack of confidence 
 in me on your part. Go, and, at the proper moment, I will come 
 into the midst of your conclave. No excuse, — no reply," continued 
 the fearful speaker, as Davis was about to say something; "do as I 
 wish." 
 
 With these words, came an imperious wave of Mary Murdock's 
 hand, that seemed to be more potent than a sceptre; for, as though 
 incapable of resistance, the rebel President silently left the apart- 
 ment. 
 
 Striding up the staircase, he quickly reached a moderate-sized 
 room, in which were assembled some five or six men. Two of these 
 
BWGHT HOPES FOR TREASON'. 71 
 
 were well known, not only in the South, but aho in the North, as 
 ambitious politicians, whoso principles and character were of the 
 fiercest Btainp. The others were men of far deeper mind and calibre, 
 but of equally unhealthy moral parts. P^paulets and spurs, that 
 adorned two of the group, showed that the rebel military power was 
 represented, as well as the civil. 
 
 "Why, brother Davis 1' exclaimed several voices at once, as the 
 traitor President entered the room ; "you are excessively pale ; what 
 has oceured ? Has our army at Manassas been overthrown or cap- 
 tured ?" 
 
 " So flir from that, gentlemen, all goes swimmingly with the Con- 
 federacy," replied Davis, smiling graciously, and Buddeuly assuming 
 a cheerfulness he felt not. 
 
 " Well, thank Ileaven for that," answered one of the group. 
 **But pray be seated, your Excellency," added the speaker, pushing 
 a chair toward Davis, who, seating himself, placed the documents ho 
 carried in his hand, upon the table round which his advir-ers sat. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said he, "read these ; they will please you beyond 
 a doubt, nud. prove to you that our infant Confederacy is befriended 
 by powerful allies." • 
 
 One after another the papers were perused and handed round until 
 all had acquainted themselves with their contents. 
 
 "That is glorious!" exclaimed one of the group, "that is glorious I 
 Now is the time for an advance. A well executed flank movement 
 will give us Washington itself, and holding that we hold the balance 
 of power." 
 
 " I disagree with you, General," said Davis in a very positive 
 manner, " and I will explain, why. Suppose you capture Washing- 
 ton, with every gun and man in it. You have won, it is true, a 
 B]3lendid victory for the South ; but you have at the same moment 
 infuriated the whole North to madness, and, rising in its tremendous 
 power, it would crush us back with its mere bulk.' 
 
 Each added his opinion, and the rebel President finally found 
 himself opposed to a majority. For the last time he was about to 
 once more defend the position he had taken, when suddenly all 
 present, except himself, were astonished at beholding a young and 
 lovely female enter the apartment, bearing in her hand a long 
 muslin case. 
 
74 TETB REBEL CONCLAYB. • 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE REBEL CONCLATB. 
 
 As Mary Murdock stepped forward into the room where' the 
 conspirators sat, they glanced one at another, and then at Da via, 
 who, instead of saying what he intended at the moment of the 
 interruption, rose to his feet, and introduced the new comer in the 
 following language : 
 
 " Gentlemen, allow me to present to you Miss Mary Murdock, the 
 young lady to whom the two spies I sent to Washington, and 
 consequently ourselves, are indebted for the most valuable informa- 
 tion that I have just communicated to you." 
 
 The conspirators immediately rose, bowed to the beautiful 
 intruder, and re-seated themselves. 
 
 "Miss Murdock," continued the rebel President, " is a true and 
 staunch friend of our Confederacy, gentlemen ; and, being gifted with 
 powers not vouchsafed to ordinary mortals, is capable of rendering 
 us the most unexpected and signal service. Wherefore are you 
 here, Miss Murdock?" 
 
 These last words were spoken in a kindly tone, to the girl demon, 
 who, advancing a step or two further toward the table at which the 
 traitors were sitting, replied : 
 
 " I am here that I may give my voice in your council. You are 
 divnded in opinion ; division leads to weakness ; weakness leads to 
 destruction." 
 
 Several countenances exhibited signs of impatience at this moraent» 
 that a girl should speak thus to men of age and long experience ; but, 
 altogether unheedful thereof, Mary Murdock continued : 
 
 " You would have your rebellion crowned with success; you must, 
 therefore, keep always in view two objects — the firm uniting of the 
 South and the division of the North. For the latter, there is but 
 one way to accomplish it, and that is thus :" 
 
 With these words, the startling, terrible girl whirled from beneath 
 a mantle she wore a huge living serpent of the copperhead speciea^ 
 and flung it, contorted and fiercely hissing, upon the table. Th« 
 effect was electrical. Some of the traitorous conspirators started to 
 their feet, some leaped convulsively back, and others sat as thongh 
 helpless from fear. The next moment, Mary Murdock dpraug 
 
 { 
 
' \ 
 
4 
 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 e 
 I- 
 
 s. 
 
 e 
 « 
 
 o 
 a 
 
 T3 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 9 
 o 
 
 "3 
 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 - • 
 
 - 9 
 a « 
 
 O Oa 
 
 a • 
 
 _ o 
 
 « I 
 
 '5 >» 
 
 M ^ 
 
 Li"" 
 
 o 
 
 
 us 
 
A STARTLING INCIDENT. 85 
 
 forward, and seizing the serpent, caused it to,beoomc pacified ; and 
 the reptile slowly began to move about the table, never seeking to 
 get off the latter, and yet ever and anon rearing its loathsome head 
 and displaying its fearful fangs. 
 
 " There is your success !" exclaimed the girl demon, extended her 
 arm and pointing to the snake ; " divide the North by the subtility 
 and venom of the serpent. The serpent, the serpent is your true ally, 
 your most potent friend. Seek not to cope even-handed, strength 
 for strength, with the North or you are defeated already. I am 
 your friend, the friend of your wicked cause, because it works evil 
 in the land. It carries bitter sorrow and suffering to thousands of 
 once happy homes ; therefore I love it. For a limited time I can 
 serve it well, and I will do so. I have already rendered* it some 
 little service as an earnest of the future. Ere morning I will render 
 it another. Remember the serpent is your — our best friend !" 
 
 As she thus spoke, Mary Murdock grasped the reptile she had 
 flung upon the table, and concealing it again beneath her mantle, she 
 bade the assembled conclave adieu, and left them, with the exception 
 of Davis himself, almost stupefied with amazement. Inquiring 
 glances were exchanged as the startling intruder withdrew, and all 
 seemed at a loss what to think or say. 
 
 At this juncture, Davis explained to his companions that Miss 
 Murdock was one of those marvellous phenomena that now and then 
 astonish mankind with their supernatural powers and attributes. 
 He explained in what manner she had served the cause of the Rebel- 
 lion, and predicted that she would ere long render the Confederacy 
 as much material aid as a body of a hundred thousand well armed 
 troops. The traitors were more astonished than ever ; in fact so 
 deep was the impression that the action and personal appearance of 
 Mary Murdock had made upon them, that, although they had met 
 for the purpose of consulting on most important matters, they spent 
 the rest of the evening in conversation relative to her. Consequent- 
 ly another meeting was necessarily appointed for the next day. 
 
 Immediately upon parting from his friends, the rebel President 
 sent for a confidential officer, one of those vile tools that are always 
 to be found about tyrants, and ordered him to arrest Wilson, the 
 spy, concerning whom Mary Murdock had spoken to him. The 
 officer forthwith set out for the residence of the doomed man, but 
 upon arriving there, ascertained that he had gone out shortly before 
 with a young lady ; whither he had gone, or when he would return, 
 no one could tell. So the officer returned to Davis, who, upon 
 hearing the facts, ordered him to go back and keep a strict watch 
 4 
 
86 THE DOOMED SPY, 
 
 upon the house, until at least noon of the next day. If the spy 
 should, in the meantime, go out or come in, he was to- watch him 
 until night fell, when at a favorable moment, he was to arrest him. 
 
 The officer promptly obeyed, and taking up his designated posi- 
 tion, faithfully performed the part that had been assigned to him. 
 His diligence, however, met with no reward ; and at noon he report- 
 ed his non-success to Davis, who relieved him from further attention 
 to the matter. This course of the rebel President had its explana- 
 tion in the fact, that about ten o'clock in the morning he had 
 received a visit from Mary Murdock. The fearful girl naively in- 
 formed him that having determined it was better for Wilson to die, 
 she had easily compassed his death. 
 
 " He is quiet enough now, President Davis," she added. " You 
 need have no further fear of his treachery. I saw him die, — he died 
 by my hand." 
 
 The rebel President, having taken the advice of the demon girl, 
 did not attempt the assumption of a horror that he did not feel, at 
 the narration of her deed of blood. On the contrary, he grasped 
 her hand, and expressed his satisfaction in the strongest terms. 
 
 After some further conversation, Mary Murdock remarked : 
 
 "President Davis, when 1 first joined myself to your cause, I 
 believed myself capable of rendering it service that, in spite of the 
 tremendous strength of the North, would give you speedy success. 
 But, doubtless, you recollect my mentioning the fact that there was, 
 in Washington, an influence adverse to me, and more powerful than 
 mine. That influence I hoped to destroy ; but I have failed, and it 
 is now seeking my overthrow, — my destruction! To it I must 
 finally succumb, — how soon, how late, I cannot now foresee. Until 
 I do, however, my best powers shall be used for your benefit. I may 
 not pass the lines of the Union army myself, but I can open the way 
 for others, and I can also venture, though it is a great risk, to follow 
 and guide them, secondarily, with my influence." 
 
 " I was thinking, a while ago," said Davis, in reply to these words, 
 ** that, under all circumstances, it would be best for you to confine 
 your operations to the Union pickets. You run less risk, and, there- 
 fore, I am sure of your aid for a longer time. That which you have 
 already accomplished is worth more than a large army to me ; and, 
 with you to break the picket lines of the enemy, I shall be able so 
 to direct the armies we have as to defeat our Yankee foes. So I 
 would prefer you to adopt this plan of procedure. It would, in 
 time, so terrify the Union soldiers that they would become utterly 
 demoralized, and would, therefore, render them useless as pickets. 
 
A MYSTERIOUS FOE. 87 
 
 As tlie Mystermis Picket Slayer, Miss Murdock, you could help us to 
 win two or three carapaigus." 
 
 "You speak correctly, President Davis," rejoined the girl demon; 
 "and hereafter, so long as I am permitted by that Power which 
 makes us all subservient to His will, I will confine my operations, as 
 you suggest, to the picket lines of the Union army. It will mystify 
 them terribly ; and I love mystery ! ha 1 ha 1 If I were vain of titles, 
 that would please roe wonderfuU}', — ' The Mysterious Picket Slayer P''^ 
 
 ''I will give you a letter to General Lee, Miss Murdock," said 
 Davis, sitting down at a desk, and taking up a pen. 
 
 "I do not really need one. President Davis," answered Mary ; " but, ^ 
 to prevent delay, I will accept of one." 
 
 The letter was not quite finished, when suddenly the fair com- 
 panion of the rebel President started, and exclaimed : 
 
 '■Quick! quick I my enemy, — the adverse influence, — is close at 
 hand 1 ' Quick, or I am lost ! The letter ! — give it to me !" 
 
 A few hurried strokes of the pen, and Davis handed the letter to 
 Mary 3kIurdock, who, seizing it, vanished instantly, as though she had 
 been a phantom or spirit. 
 
 -»-#-^ 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE MAGIC WAND. 
 
 When Mr. "Wetherill halted, as we have previously recorded, at 
 Matildaville, it was from motives of prudence that he did so. 
 
 Here he remained a day and part of a night, and then set out 
 Southward toward Richmond. He did not proceed further, how- 
 ever, than Hunter's Mill, which is situated on Difficult Creek, a 
 short distance Northwest of Vienna, on the Alexandria and Loudon 
 Railroad. Several hundred rods below the Mill, and on the West 
 bank of the stream, there is a romantic little gulch or grotto. To 
 this Wetherill bent his steps, as though he had been aware of its 
 existence since childhood, and, making his way through the mass of 
 tangled brushwood that almost filled it, he reached a small natural 
 basin of stone, into which a clear, sparkling rill trickled from above, 
 and from which, in turn, it fell over into a gravelly bed, aud mean- 
 dered gently away to the creek. 
 
88 THE MAGIC WAND. 
 
 The sun had not fully risen, and, until it did, "Wetherill remained, 
 musing silently, seated upon a large, moss-grown stone close to the 
 spring. Now and then he cast a glance upward to the tree-tops, as 
 though watching the gleams of daylight, that momentarily increased 
 in brightness, until, at last, the highest boughs were bathed in the 
 living gold of morning. 
 
 At this juncture Wetherill rose to his feet, and drew from beneath 
 his coat a wand of most peculiar wood, about fifteen inches in length, 
 as thick in diamater as an ordinary walking cane, and curiously 
 carved with strange figures and devices. This wand, after uttering 
 something as though in a soliloquy, Wetherill cast into the natural 
 stone basin. 
 
 In an instant it began to circle round on the surface of the clear, 
 limped water. Then it as quickly remained stationary for a single 
 moment, and then, much in the manner of the compass-needle, it 
 swung back and forth between Southeast and South. With a most 
 intense expression of earnestness on his countenance, Wetherill bent 
 down close over the stone basin, and eagerly watched each motion, 
 no matter how slight, of the wand. Thus did he occupy himself for 
 the space of several minutes, and then, suddenly snatching the wand 
 from the water, he thrust it back in the place from which he had 
 taken it, uttering, as he did so, some abrupt expressions, in the 
 Persian language. 
 
 Once more he paused as though in a deep reverie, and then, in the 
 manner of a person who follows a guide, he left the dell, with a quick 
 but half uncertain stride. 
 
 We do not pretend to give any judgment on this action of 
 Wetherill, yet we say but the simple truth in asserting, that, without 
 halting, the mysterious and learned Englishman went directly to the 
 farm-house of Mr. Tibbett. 
 
 The action of England toward the United States, at the period of 
 which we write, naturally led those whose affections were with the 
 South to look with the most friendly feelings upon any one of 
 British birth. Consequently Mr. Wetherill had only to announce 
 his nationality to the Tibbctts to awaken their liveliest friendship. 
 Of this he took full advantage, without committing himself to any 
 untruth, and ascertained much that was valuable to him in his 
 pursuit of Mary Murdock. 
 
 Mrs. Tibbet was particularly enthusiastic in regard to the beauti- 
 ful angel who had honored her house with her presence, and who had, 
 with so much success, opened a way through the Union line for the 
 two rebel spies to reach Washington.. 
 
THE PURSUER IX PERIL. 89 
 
 Mr. "Wetlierill inquired tho exact date of this occurrence, aud 
 found it to tally exactly with the date, even to a minute, that he had 
 held an interview with Mr. Lincoln and General McClellan. Fur- 
 ther inquiry failed to elicit more from Mrs. Tibbett, than that Mary 
 Murdock had accompanied the two spies to Richmond. To Rich- 
 mond, tlierefore, Wcthcrill proceeded without delay, and yet with 
 as much caution as possible. Long before he reached the Rebel 
 capital, however, he became aware, though not through the agency 
 of any human being, that the girl demon had departed from there, 
 and gone to the Valley of the Shenandoah, for the purpose of per- 
 forminor the horrid, heartless role she had assumed in the drama of 
 the Rebellion. Wetherill did not alter his direction, but continued 
 on to Richmond, where he made good use of his own marvellous 
 powers for the benefit of the Union cause. 
 
 Through the interposition of the singular and terrible girl, Mary 
 Murdock, the Rebel government had become thoroughly acquainted 
 not only with the intended movement of tlie Army of the Potomac 
 up the Peninsula, but also with the minutest details of its organiza- 
 tion, and its strength in artillery and transportation. The manner in 
 which Generals Banks' and McDowell's columns were to operate, 
 likewise reached them, and this was the true reason why the famous 
 Stonewall Jackson was enabled to accomplish so much by his see- 
 saw strategy of alternate advances and retreats. 
 
 After obtaining all the information he thought necessary for the 
 accomplishment of the object he had in view, Wetherill left Rich- 
 mond, and set his face toward Stonewall Jackson's army, fully 
 confident of capturing his fearful charge, Mary Murdock. It never 
 transpired how he became aware of the fact, but upon reaching 
 Piedmont, which lies in the gap of Battle-Snake Mountains, he found 
 the girl demon close at hand. He therefore halted, and made such 
 arrangements as he deemed ample to secure her. Had she been a 
 mere ordinary female, the difficulty of her capture would have been 
 but slight ; but possessed of the powers that have already been 
 described, she became at once a fugitive hard to catch, and a foe 
 terrible to, encounter. Add to this, that it was impossible for "Weth- 
 erill to surprise her, and the reader may form some conception of 
 the perilous task that the EnglishmAn had undertaken. 
 
 The first thing "Wetherill did. upon his arrival, was to seek a 
 clear spring in a spur of the" mountain. This he was not long in 
 finding, and into it he cast the curiously-carved wand we have 
 previou.sly referred to. After one or two quick oscillations on the 
 crystal surface of the water, the wand suddenly became stationary. 
 
90 A FEARFUL RACE. 
 
 Then, just as quickly, the thicker end of it sank about two inches, 
 leaving the point proportionally raised clear of the water. 
 
 At this instant a deathly paleness spread itself over Wetherill's 
 features, and simultaneously an arrow flashed past his cheek, and, 
 striking the rocks back of the spring, splintered into a hundred 
 fragments, some of which fell into the water about the wand, and 
 others into the mysterious Eaglishman's face. 
 
 With the quickness of lightning, "Wetherill snatched the magic 
 wand from the spring, and wheeling half round on his heel, 
 extended it in the direction in which the shaft had come. As he 
 did so, a wild, weird scream of disappointment and rage, broke 
 shrilly upon the still air of the mountain, and a moment later, the 
 light form of Mary Murdock bounded from a thicket a few rods 
 distant. 
 
 Down the ragged pathway, through the interlacing bushes, and 
 over high stones and fallen trees, the girl demon flew, never once 
 stumbling or slipping, and never once looking behind her at her 
 guardian, who pursued her at the top of his speed. On, on they 
 sped in silence, but terrible determination, until at last a little run of 
 water that cascaded down ihe mountain side, appeared in view. 
 
 As her eyes lit on the silvery, plashing brook, Mary Murdock for 
 the first time turned her head, and cast a glance at "Wetherill. The 
 latter had gained upon the fair fugitive slightly, and was pressing 
 forward with renewed energy, when the mountain stream, that had 
 hitherto, been hidden from his eyes, came in sight. At this instant 
 Mary Mardock was close on its bank^ and pausing a moment, she 
 uttered an exulting scream. The sound had scarcely reached 
 Wetherill's ear, when the girl demon cleared the brook at a single 
 bound, and as though she had sprung down a precipice on the 
 opposite side, disappeared from view. 
 
 Instantly Wetherill ceased his pursuit, and retraced his steps to 
 where the race had commenced. From this point he wended his 
 way, by another path, down the mountain, to where he had left his 
 horse, a spirited and valuable animal. It was still on the spot in 
 which he had left it, but it was dead, and already several keen-eyed 
 vultures were circling above its carcass, in which not a single wound 
 appeared. 
 
 "Just as I thought," muttered Wetherill, turning away, and 
 keeping on his road down toward the town. " But," continued he, 
 "she must have gained new powers of which I know not I Strange 
 if I should at last become her victim. However, my fault it was 
 that she became inducted into a knowledge of these startling 
 
GENERAL LEE's PLANS. 91 
 
 sciences, and my dut]^ it is to society to bring her into my power 
 again, or to perish in the effort." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE DEMON GIRL AGAIN AT WORK. 
 
 After escaping as we have seen, from her guardian, on Battle 
 Snake Mountain, Mary Muidock hastened with all speed to Rich- 
 mond. Here she found tjjut Jeff. Davis had gone to Lynchburg, 
 but was expected hourly to return, as a dispatch had been sent to 
 him by General Lee. She therefore awaited his coming. By this 
 time, General McClellan had pushed the Army of the Potomac up 
 the Peninsula, from Williamsburg to White House, which was now 
 his base of supplies, and General Lee began to have considerable 
 anxiety as to the safety of Richmond. 
 
 The rebel President, on receiving Lee's dispatch, came forthwith 
 to the Confederate Capital, leaving some important afiairs unsettled 
 at Lynchburg. Lee was waiting for him when he reached his head- 
 quarters, and immediately asked his approval of a plan he submitted 
 for capturing or cutting to pieces McClellan's army. 
 
 " The only difficulty which presents itself," said Lee to Davis, " is 
 that there is peril of the Yankees becoming alarmed too soon. But 
 even in that case, I can force McClellan to retreat or change base. 
 If he retreats, I can cut him pretty well up before he reaches the 
 works at Williamsburg; and if he attempts to reach the James River, 
 which Napoleon himself would scarcely attempt in view of the dan- 
 ger of such a movement, I can capture or annihilate his whole host 
 before he reaches the gunboats." 
 
 " Would to Heaven that strange, terrible girl, Mary Murdock, 
 ■were here 1" exclaimed Davis. " She could give you all the advan- 
 tage of a surprise. It was her who enabled Jackson to surprise 
 Banks, and drive him back, you remember. She killed twenty-five 
 or thirty men with her own hand, and without the slightest alarm." 
 
 " Yes," replied Lee ; " were she here at this moment, she would be 
 of more service than an army corps." 
 
 The words had scarcely left Lee's mouth, when the door of the 
 
92 GENERAL LEE AND MARY MURDOCK. 
 
 apartment in which he sat with Davis was opened, and the demon 
 girl herself stood before the arch-traitors. 
 
 " Welcome, welcome, Miss Murdock !" exclaimed the rebel Presi- 
 dent, starting forward, and taking the hand of the fair intruder. 
 " We were just wishing for you. You can render our cause a most 
 valuable service." 
 
 "Name it, then!" replied the demon girl, in a voice strangely 
 altered from its usual tones ; " for my power is fast failing me, and, 
 in a short period, I must meet the fate prepared for me, and pass 
 from earth to where I belong." 
 
 " The service I would ask of you. Miss Murdock," said General 
 Lee to the girl demon, " is to break the enemy's line at White House 
 without creating an alarm, in order that I may push a column of 
 troops through to his rear. The value of the whole movement will 
 depend on twenty-four hours' secrecy .'" 
 
 " I am ready, General," said Mary Murdock, " to set out immedi- 
 ately. Now is the time ; delay may bring me within the power of a 
 superior foe." 
 
 Within five minutes after this answer, Mary Murdock was on her 
 way, in company with the redoubtable General Lee, to the camps of 
 the rebel Army of Virginia. 
 
 General McClellan had seen the weakness of his line at White 
 House, but being unable to remedy the defect in any other manner, 
 he had pushed out his pickets at this point further toward the enemy, 
 aud more than doubled their lines and reserves. Beyond the first 
 line he also stationed videttes mounted on fleet steeds. In this 
 manner he sought to make up for his deficiency in strength, hoping, 
 if the rebels made a a demonstration here, to be able, by rapidity of 
 movement, to meet them with a force taken fnom another part of his 
 line, sufficient to drive them back. 
 
 After receiving certain instructions from General Lee, Mary Mur- 
 dock set forth on her mission of blood, as cheerily as though she was 
 going to a bridal. It was midnight of the twelfth of June that she 
 bade the rebel General good-night, and told him he might push for- 
 ward his reconnoitering column at daylight, without fear of a pre- 
 mature alarm. 
 
 A short distance from Old Church, the terrible girl came upon the 
 first of McClellan's mounted videttes. In a moment the fatal bow 
 was drawn, an arrow fitted to its string ; a twang, a whiz, and a 
 groan, and another victim was added to the long list already arrayed 
 against the " Mysterious Picket SlayerT 
 
 Scarcely had the Union soldier fallen from his saddle to the road 
 
A TOUGHING INCIDENT. 98 
 
 when his murderess reached him, and, leaning over his corpse, 
 plucked the arrow from his heart. Next, with the same rapidity of 
 motion as had hitherto characterized her movements, she possessed 
 herself of the vidette's cap and overcoat, in which attiring herself, 
 she vaulted into the empty saddle, and turned the horse's head down 
 the road. The spirited animal, all unconscious of the character of 
 his new rider, bore her at full speed toward the next vidctte. 
 
 But let us forbear further details of the revolting ride of the 
 Picket Slayer. Suffice it to say that she accomplished the object of 
 her bloody errand most successfully, and had, by the appointed hour, 
 pierced the last line that stretched between Lee and the Army of the 
 Potomac. 
 
 This done, she wheeled her steed and galloped back toward Rich- 
 mond. Such confidence had Lee in her success, that he had dis- 
 patched his column of fifteen hundred picked cavalry and six pieces 
 of artillery, under General Stuart, immediately after her. This col- 
 umn she met on her return, just as the bright sun began to rise. A 
 body of the Fifth Union Cavalry, stationed at Old Church, she had 
 ridden around, both going and returning ; and, on meeting General 
 Stuart, she gave him such information as would enable him either to 
 capture or flank them, and thus avoid a skirmish. A spirit of bra- 
 vado led the rebel to attempt the former expedient ; but instead of 
 capturing the brave detachment, he only succeeded in driving them 
 before him. In spite of this, however, he succeeded in obtaining all 
 the information General Lee desired to have for his projected move- 
 ment against the Union Army, and returned in safety, by a circuit- 
 uous route, to camp.. Here he found Mary Murdock at General 
 Lee's headquarters, waiting another opportunity to serve the wicked 
 cause she had espoused. 
 
 It is, no doubt, still fresh in the memory of the reader, what an 
 excitement was caused by this bold raid of the rebel cavalry, in the 
 army as well as out of it. 
 
 The Union lines were immediately re established, however, and the 
 murdered pickets buried. In regard to one of these unfortunate 
 heroes, an incident occurred which we cannot forbear recording in 
 this connection. 
 
 Though the shaft that had deprived him of life had passed through • 
 his heart, yet he had not died immediately, for in his hand was 
 grasped an ambrotype of an old lady, most likely his mother, in 
 the case of which were found the following beautiful lines. In her 
 earnest love, the mother, not knowing what words to write to her 
 son, had come across the newspaper containing the poem, and, feel- 
 
94t THE MOTHER'3 PRAYER. 
 
 ing that the stanzas expressed her own fair thoughts, she had clipped 
 it out and sent it to him. What made the incident more touching: 
 than it would otherwise have been, was, that both the ambrotype 
 and slip of newspaper were stained with the gallant soldier's life 
 blood : 
 
 THE MOTHER'S PLAYER. 
 
 Father ! in the battle fray, 
 Shelter my dear boy, I pray ! 
 Nerve his young arm with the might 
 Of Justice, Liberty and Right, 
 Where the red hail deadliest falls, 
 W here stern Duty loudest calls, 
 Where the strife is fierce and wild, 
 Father! guard, oh! guard my child! 
 
 Where the foe rush swift and strong, 
 Madly striving for the wrong, 
 Where the clashing arms men wield 
 Ring above the battle-field ; 
 Where the stifling air is hot 
 With bursting shell and shrieking shot- 
 Father! to my brave boy's breast 
 Let no traitor's blade be pressed. 
 
 Father I if my woman's heart, — 
 Frail and weak in every part, — >• 
 Wanders from' Thy mercy seat 
 After those dear, roving feet, 
 Let thy tender, pitying grace 
 Every selfish thought erase ; 
 If this mother-love be wrong. 
 Pardon, bless and make me strong. 
 
 For, when silent shades of night 
 Shut the bright world from my sight,— 
 And around the cheerful fire 
 Gather brothers, sisters, sire, — 
 There I miss my boy's bright face 
 From his old, familiar place, 
 And my sad heart wanders back 
 To tented field and bivouac. 
 
THE mother's prayer. 95 
 
 Often in my troubled sleep, 
 Waking wearily to weep — 
 Often dreaming he is near, 
 Calming every anxious fear ; 
 Often startled by the flash 
 Of hostile swords that meet and clash, 
 Till the cannon's smoke and roar 
 Hide him from my eyes once more I 
 
 • 
 
 Thus I dream, and hope and pray 
 All the weary hours away. 
 But I know his cause is just, 
 And I center all my trust 
 In Thy promise : " As thy day, 
 So shall thy strength be" — alway ; 
 Yet I need Thy guidance still ! 
 Father 1 let me do Thy will. 
 
 If new sorrow should befal, — 
 If my noble boy should fall ; 
 If the bright head I have blessed 
 On the cold earth find its rest, — 
 Still, ^vith all my mother's heart 
 Torn, and quivering with the smart, 
 I yield him, 'neath Thy chastening rod, 
 To his Country and his God. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THB CRYSTAL CASKET. 
 
 On the night of the day on which General Stnart pushed his way 
 round to White House and Tunstall's Station, a single rider galloped 
 over the same road, in the direction of McClellan's camp. Straight 
 through the reestablished Union lines he rode, but, strange to say, 
 he was unchallenged, and his grey steed flew onward like the wind. 
 This horseman was Wetherill, the mysterious guardian of the still 
 
99 wetherill's last visit. 
 
 more mysterious Picket Slayer, Mary Murdock. His animal seemed 
 to have borne liini many a weary mile, for the foam, tinged with 
 blood, dropped in flakes from his bridle-bit, and his skin was covered 
 with a complete lather. Yet forward he sprang, at the urging of his 
 master, until he brought the latter to McClellau's tent. Here, how- 
 ever, his journey was ended, and, sinking to the turf, he expired. 
 
 A moment later, and Wethcrill stood in the presence of the Union 
 commander, who noticed that his whole appearance had undergone a 
 singular change since he had last seen hiin. Ills face, thin, cadaver- 
 ous, and pale, was rendered still more ghastly by his 'eyes, that 
 gleamed from their hollow sockets with terrible brightness. 
 
 " General," said he, after some little conversation with McClellan, 
 who chanced to be alone at the time, "I once told you I should need 
 your help to secure this terrible girl. Since then I have been con- 
 tinually in pursuit of her, but, until now, have been baffled. With 
 your aid, I can retake her at sunrise to-morrow morning." 
 
 " Whatever I can do, I will do it willingly," replied the General ; 
 " for I am well assured that, without her assistance, our lines could 
 never have been pierced, as they were by the rebel cavalry, without 
 a timely alarm being given." 
 
 " Then, General," said Wetherill, drawing forth a richly moulded 
 crystal box, of small size, " at three o'clock exactly, open this little 
 chest. In it you will find a peculiar candle which will light itself 
 upon the opening of the lid. If the candle should burn beyond 
 sun-rise, extinguish it instantly by closing the lid of the chest ; but on 
 no account permit it to become extinguished before day dawn. I 
 may return and I may not ; if I should, I will explain to you the 
 true science of what seems no doubt to you a silly rite, — a mummery 
 of magic. But of one thing rest assured, that whether I return or 
 not, you will no more be troubled with this demon girl. 
 
 " Another thing ere I go ; General Lee has already sent for 
 Stonewall Jackson, and with seventy -five thousand men is going to 
 attack White House immediately with the intention of capturing 
 your supplies. He then expects you to retreat on Williamsburg, 
 and has made such dispositions as will insure your destruction. His 
 army greatly outnumbers yours. To insure to you the least hope 
 of escape, there is but one course open to you, and that he thinks 
 you will not attempt — namely, a rapid march to the James Eiver." 
 
 "That is exactly what I have already commenced, Mr. Wetherill,'^ 
 replied McClellan, " and, with sufficient reinforcements, I will turn 
 this apparent disaster, which I know cannot be prevented, into a 
 grand and overwhelming victory." 
 
m'clellan'9 promise fulfilled. 97 
 
 "Then you have taken the only route to safety," answered, 
 Wetherill ; " but," continued he, " I must bo gone, the time gets 
 short. Will you, General, faithfully follow out my instructions in 
 regard to this casket and its contents ?" 
 
 ° Certainly, Mr. Wetherill," rejoined McClellan, " I have made all 
 my arr;ingements for the night, and though confessing to but little 
 faith in these magical arts, I will, because you request it, follow your 
 instructions rigidly." ' 
 
 '« All is well with you, then, General. I may return or I may 
 not; if I do, I will show you that what you and Mr. Lincoln 
 regarded so lightly, is really one of the most sublime sciences that 
 mortal man has ever discovered. If I do not return, you may know 
 that I am no longer of earth. Farewell." 
 
 McClellan could not repress the feeling of mysterious awe that 
 possessed him as he shook Wetherill's extended hand, and when the 
 latter left the tent, he said to himself: 
 
 " What a strange, incomprehensible man !" 
 
 The intervening time to three o'clock was passed by McClellan in 
 attention to some matters that the pressure of his other duties had 
 not allowed him until now to arrange. True to his word, however, 
 he did not neglect the promise he had made to Wetherill, but, 
 exactly at three o'clock, opened the lid of the crystal casket. As 
 Wetherill had said, a small candle within it was instantly ignited, 
 and burned with a steady white light. Curiosity led McClellan to 
 look into the casket ; but it had no contents whatever, saving the 
 diminutive candle, and this seemed to consume with more than 
 ordinary rapidity. Its flame sank gradually down within the crys- 
 tal sides that surrounded it, and through which its light came with 
 an ever-increasing dimness, until at last it was barely perceptible. 
 
 Day at last dawned, and the commander of the Army of the Poto- 
 mac, to completely fulfill his promise to the mysterious Wetherill, 
 approached the casket for the purpose of extinguishing the light it 
 contained. But the latter was so nearly out that he involuntarily 
 awaited its self-extinguishment. He was not detained long thus, for, 
 even as he gazed down upon the little flame, it vanished wholly and 
 without a flicker. 
 
 " At this moment," said he, to the person to whom he afterward 
 narrated the singular affair, " the thought flashed across my mind, 
 that Wetherill and the startling girl of whom he was in pursuit, had, 
 at that moment, ceased to live ! I know not why it so occurred to 
 me, but I could not rid myself of it. And even now, at this com- 
 paratively distant day, I never look upon the crystal casket that 
 
S8 THE LAST Pt'Rsurr. 
 
 "Wetherill thus left in mj possession, but the remembrance comes to 
 me as vividly as ever." 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A TRAGIC END. 
 
 Once more we return to the mysterious Wetherill. After bidding 
 General McClellan farewell, he hastened away in the direction of the 
 camp of the rebel General Lee. When within four miles of the 
 latter, he stopped where four roads intersected, and seemed for awhile 
 to be at a loss which to take. This he presently decided, and again 
 moved forward, not, however, at the same rapid pace as before ; but 
 like a man fearful of encountering some peril. Several times within 
 the next mile he halted, and gazed intently up at the stars overhead. 
 Immediately after doing so the last time, Wetherill turned from the 
 main road into a by-path that wound now through wheat and corn- 
 fields, and now through dense woodlands with as much irregularity 
 as a meandering stream. As he advanced his speed decreased, until 
 at last it was not faster than a slow walk; and just as day was ab%ut 
 breaking, he reached what seemed to be the destination of his jour- 
 ney. This was a huge rock far up on the left bank of the Chicka- 
 hominy river. 
 
 Here he produced from beneath his coat a crystal casket, which 
 was an exact counterpart of the one he had left with General McClel- 
 lan. Casting a momentary glance up at the sky, along which the 
 greyish light of day was just creeping, he opened the lid of the 
 casket, and with precisely the same result as we have seen in regard 
 to the other, namely, the igniting of a diminutive candle. One 
 difference, however, was instantly apparent — while the taper in 
 McClellan's casket burned with a steady consumption, that in Weth- 
 erill's burned fitfully and with astonishing rapidity, — so much so,* in 
 fact, that day had not fully broken ere it was almost out. 
 
 From the moment of opening the casket, Wetherill had bent 
 down over it with such an intent and eager steadiness that the flame 
 of the candle seemed to scorch his face. All this while, also, he 
 continued to utter broken sentences in the Persian and ancient 
 Chaldee tongues. His voice and manner became more and more 
 
A PROPHECY FULFILLED. 99 
 
 earnest as the flame of the candle got lower and lower. The sun 
 was now just below the horizon, and all nature seemed awaking to 
 greet his cheerful rays, when suddenly an arrow, shot with terrible 
 force, fairly struck the casket, shivering it to atoips, and in.stantly 
 extinguishing the little taper. A groan burst from the lips of 
 Wethcrill at this instant, and he snatched from his bosom the 
 singularly carved wand we have seen him use once before. This he 
 extended in the direction of the flight of the arrow, but, while in the 
 very act, a second shaft, shot more vengefully than the first, struck 
 him upon the right check," not fully, but so close as to cut the flesh 
 slightly from about the middle of the cheek back to the ear. 
 
 A deadly shiver ran through the frame of the wounded man as he 
 felt the warm blood spurt from the gash, and, with compressed lips, 
 he muttered : 
 
 " Three shafts ! so ends her power ' so ends my life ! His will be 
 done !" 
 
 At this moment, Mary Murdock — for she it was who had shot the 
 two arrows, leaped from the thicket in which she had been concealed, 
 and sought to fly, but in an instant, WetherUl sprang after her, 
 never lowering the wand which he heia towaid her. Quickly the 
 girl demon seemed to lose her strength, and ere she had fled a 
 quarter of a mile she sank to the earth, clutching at the flowers and 
 grass as she fell, whilst a demoniac agony writhed and worked her 
 beautiful features into the most fearful contortions. No sound 
 escaped her, neither did she make any motion after sinking to the 
 ground, save an occasional effort to raise her head, that fell forward 
 and rested heavily on her bosom. Her end was approaching, as she 
 had years before predicted. By the hand of her guardian, she was to 
 die. Not that the latter shed her blood, for his only act upon reach- 
 ing her was to touch her with the singular wand he carried. And 
 even this seemed to be as mortal to himself as to her, for, on touch- 
 ing her, he staggered back several paces, whilst a more deadly pallor 
 ^read itself upon his features than before, and his eyes became dim 
 and glassy. Yet, with all his determination, he continued to hold 
 the wand toward Mary Murdock. 
 
 What a weird, terribly solemn picture was there presented. No 
 passing zephyr stirred the leaves, no birds caroled in the branches, 
 and even the insects were silent as the two strange beings were 
 dying, each destroyed by an art unknown to their fellow beings. 
 Whether the wound inflicted by the demon girl's arrow, or the mys- 
 terious influence of the contact of the wand held by Wethcrill, 
 caused the fatal efifect upon the latter, it is impossible to decide. 
 
IOOVji the two skeletons. 
 
 ^^ 
 Either conclusion would' be plausible ; but the same mystery en- 
 shrouds that as the two strange actors themselves. Whether Lord 
 Palmerston knew who and what Mary Murdock was, all inquiries 
 have failed to settle ; but that she was the illegitimate offspring of one 
 of the most renowned peers of England is placed beyond a doubt. 
 
 Wetherill himself was without kith or kin, and his lineage is 
 buried in oblivion. From the few facts that have come to light con- 
 ccrning him, however, he appears to have been a man fond of ab- 
 struse study and travel in his youth, and, consequently, just such a 
 person as would delight in those investigations which afterwards 
 proved so potent to him and his ward. 
 
 After it was decided to withdraw the Army of the Potomac from 
 the Peninsula, General McClellau sent flanking columns of cavalry 
 as far as possible into the enemy's lines. • One of these, scouting in 
 the neighborhood in which the tragedy we have narrated occurred, 
 came upon the bodies of the mysterious Wetherill and his still more 
 mysterious charge, Mary Murdock. Both corpses had long since 
 obeyed the mandate of Nature, "dust to dust," saving the bony 
 frames, and these, apparently unmolested by bird or beast, still re- 
 tained their relative positions. A strange awe seized the rough 
 troopers at the startling spectacle, and, without disturbing either 
 skeleton, they returned to camp to relate, with many an exaggera- 
 tion, what they had beheld. Upon learning accidentally of the dis- 
 covery, McClellan sent for the officer who had charge of the column, 
 and questioned him closely concerning it. But the latter had noticed 
 neither a broken bow nor a wand ; nothing but the two crumbling 
 skeletons. . 
 
 So mysteriously perished two of the most mysterious beings that 
 have had any connection with the American Eebellion. 
 
 THE END. 
 
RARK BOOK 
 COLLKCTION 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AT 
 
 CHAPEL HILL 
 
 Wilmer 
 36