The minister and all, in the doomed man's cell, bowed for a moment in silence, then the good man lifted up his voice to that God, whom all the universe worships, in a prayer for a soul about to take flight. Two soldiers entered and supported the prisoner beyond the prison walls, the minister following with the guard. The dread place was reached. Sergeant Swords and Corporal Grimm had charge of the execution. At the farther extremity of the field was a fresh dug grave--a rude coffin beside it--and, standing in line beneath an oak tree, were twelve soldiers with muskets in their hands. The sight was too much for Diggs and he again fainted. The regimental surgeon administered restoratives, and the officers in charge advanced to prepare the prisoner for his fate. The minister approached Sergeant Swords, asking permission, before this was done, to offer a last prayer. It was granted. The prayer was long and earnest, appealing to the Ruler of the universe, in universal terms. The minister prayed for the prisoner, he prayed for his executioners; he prayed for the officers who composed the court-martial; he prayed for the soldiers, who were to execute the sentence; he prayed for the army, for both armies, for all the armies in the world, for all the armies that had been, and for all that might be. Having completely finished up the army business, the preacher commenced on civilians, and prayed, and prayed, and prayed, until both soldiers and officers looked at him and at each other in amazement. "Sergeant," whispered Corporal Grimm, "did you ever hear as long a prayer in your life?" "No," was the whispered reply. "There! I'll be hanged if he ain't gone back to Moses!" The prayer still went on, and on, and on; and the soldiers, tired of standing, kneeled; tired of kneeling, sat; tired of sitting, lay down--and still the prayer went on. It was long past high noon, before the faltering "Amen!" was pronounced. "Ready, fall in!" came the sharp order. The men rose from the grass and fell in line, and the sergeant led Diggs over to the coffin by the side of the grave; but Diggs, sobbing piteously, clung to him with such tenacity that it was difficult for the sergeant to free himself. He finally succeeded, forced him to kneel by his coffin, put the bandage over his eyes. Just as he stepped away, the clatter of hoofs were heard coming around the bend in the road. "Attention!" said the sergeant. "Ready!" A loud cry interrupted the order, and a horseman came dashing up the hill. "Hold!" said Sergeant Swords. "There comes the captain." On, on he came, waving a paper high over his head. The soldiers rested on their guns. Abner Tompkins was among them in a minute, and declared the prisoner free by the authority of _Abraham Lincoln_. When released, Diggs sprang to his feet and, in his joy, embraced the preacher, embraced the officers and would have embraced the soldiers, had not one threateningly pointed his bayonet at him.