"Miss Suwanee,"--and his voice was scarcely audible,--"do you think we can be overheard?" "No," she replied, in like tones. "Roberta and mamma are incapable of listening." "I was not thinking of them. I must speak quickly. I don't wish to involve you, but the surgeon and I must try to escape, for I would almost rather die than be taken prisoner. Deep as is my longing for liberty I could not leave you without a word, and my trust in the chivalric feeling that you have just evinced is so deep as to convince me that I can speak to you safely. I shall not tell you anything to compromise you. You have only to be blind and deaf if you see or hear anything." Her tears were now falling fast, but she did not move, lest observant eyes should detect her emotion. "Heaven bless your good, kind heart!" he continued, in a low, earnest tone. "Whether I live or die, I wish you to know that your memory will ever be sacred to me, like that of my mother and one other. Be assured that the life you have done so much to save is always at your command. Whenever I can serve you or yours you can count on all that I am or can do. Suwanee, I shall be a better man for having known you. You don't half appreciate yourself, and every succeeding day has only proved how true my first impressions were." She did not answer, and he felt that it would be dangerous to prolong the interview. They entered the house together. As they went up the stairs she pressed her handkerchief to her eyes, he wondering at her silence and emotion. At the landing in the dusky hall-way he raised her hand to his lips. There was not a trace of gallantry in the act, and she knew it. It was only the crowning token of that recognition at which she had wondered from the first. She realized that it was only the homage of a knightly man and the final expression of his gratitude; but it overwhelmed her, and she longed to escape with the terrible revelation which had come to her at last. She could not repress a low sob, and, giving his hand a quick, strong pressure, she fled to her room. "Can it be possible?" he thought. "Oh! if I have wounded that heart, however unintentionally, I shall never forgive myself." "Lane," whispered McAllister, when the former entered his room, "there are guards about the house." "I'm not surprised," was the despondent reply. "We are prisoners." "Does the family know it?" He told him how Suwanee had detected the espionage of the rebel sergeant. "Wouldn't she help us?" "I shall not ask her to. I shall not compromise her with her people." "No, by thunder! I'd rather spend my life in prison than harm her. What shall we do?" "We must put our light out soon, and take turns in watching for the slightest opportunity. You lie down first. I do not feel sleepy."