Captain Morland was alone in his tent, when an orderly appeared at the door and handed him a paper. We need not be told that he is Mara Morland’s brother; there is a strong likeness between the two. He is a manly-looking fellow who has entered heart and soul into the struggle for the Southern cause. He has already seen much of hard service and is ready for more. Tearing open the paper he read: HEADQUARTERS OF } FIFTH GEORGIA INF., C. S. A., } May 6th, 1864. } “_Captain Morland_:--Report to me at my quarters with a detail of ten men as soon as possible. “PHILIP MARKHAM, Colonel.” “I wonder what is up now,” he mused, preparing at once to obey his orders. “Something unusual; I am certain that he summons me rather than Lieutenant Dodge.” His curiosity well aroused, Captain Morland acted very promptly. “On hand with your usual alacrity, captain,” greeted his superior. “I have a delicate task on call else I should not have selected you. You see our men have captured a troublesome fellow called Cavalry Curt, one of Sherman’s spies. He is to be shot at sunset and the unpleasant duty has been assigned to you. See that there is no blunder in the proceedings. You will find him under guard down at the lower barracks. As soon as it is over report to me. By the way news have come that Sherman is beginning hostilities. It looks as if we might be called to the front at any moment. It is no time to harbor spies. Captain Morland, your duty is plain. I trust we can depend upon you for the work.” “You can, Colonel Markham, though I wish some one else might have been selected.” At the head of his squad Captain Morland repaired as rapidly as possible to the lower barracks, to find the guard with the prisoner anxiously awaiting his arrival. “Is everything in readiness, sergeant?” asked the captain. “We have no time to spare.” “A grave has been dug and there is no need for further delays. I resign the prisoner into your hands, Captain Morland.” “Very well; place the prisoner at the edge of the pit and measure off twenty yards. We must have this over as soon as possible.” Cavalry Curt sent a swift glance upon the Confederate captain as he spoke, and a low groan escaped his lips. The next instant he turned his face away as if watching the setting sun. He had recognized his former friend but the discovery only seemed to make his fate harder to bear. “I hope Hal won’t recognize me,” he thought. “It will only make his duty the more difficult to perform.” Those who heard his groan attributed its utterance to a different cause than that which produced it. “So your courage begins to fail you,” said one of those whose duty it was to remove him to the fated post. “Well it will soon be over. Will you be blindfolded?” “No--yes.” Cavalry Curt uttered the affirmative when the thought occurred to him that it would serve to hide his face. But his voice had betrayed him.