“Then it _wasn’t_ an accident!” he exclaimed, staring at his intended victim. “No.” “And you are—” “Yes.” “Then I’m dashed if I can hang you! And a devil of a dilemma it places me in!” muttered the guerrilla chieftain, placing his great hands upon his knees, and dropping his head upon his breast in deep thought. Justin resumed his seat, and sat as calmly as if he had been at his own table, for he felt that he was now as safe as if he had been in his own camp. “And time is flying! And presently some of the men who were charged with the preparations for the execution will be at the door, to tell me that all is ready, and to ask for the prisoner! And in their present state of excitement, the rascals—the mutinous rascals—would take you out and hang you whether I like it or don’t like it; a devil of a dilemma! I had better get you off from here as quietly as possible—eh, Colonel Rosenthal?” “As you like. It is your affair,” said Justin, coolly. Monck scratched his head, repeating at intervals: “A devil of a dilemma!” Then he got up and went to the door and spoke to the sentinel on duty there, saying: “Rushley, pass the word for Captain Bannister to come here.” Then he began to walk uneasily up and down the floor. In a very few minutes Captain Bannister came in, wearing a grave and anxious expression of countenance. Monck met him near the door, drew his arm within his own, and walked him off towards one of windows; but not until Justin had heard Bannister say, in a low voice: “Nothing has occurred since my connection with this band that has so seriously distressed me as the doom of this gentleman. Major Monck, if it be possible, save him! His execution would cover us with obloquy.” “That is just what I sent for you to consult about,” answered Monck, as they both passed, arm in arm, out of Justin’s hearing. They stood within the recess of the window, conversing in a low tone, for some ten or fifteen minutes, at the end of which Monck nodded his head and approached the table. He took writing materials from the drawer, sat down and hastily scratched off a few lines on a slip of paper, which he handed to Captain Bannister, saying: “You will leave this room by the back door, which will take you into the back yard. Go then through the garden and orchard, and around by the old field, and so make a circuit to the ferry. In that way you will escape showing your prisoner to the disaffected men who have come in from that luckless expedition. As for the other men, it does not matter, as they are not nearly so blood-thirsty! The devil is in it that I should have to pass a prisoner out of camp in this surreptitious way. No matter. Wait until we join our forces with that of Goldsborough and the Free Sword, and we will see whether better discipline cannot be maintained among these wild colts.” Captain Bannister received the written paper with a bow and then turned towards Justin.