It was at this moment that the brother of Alibamo, as narrated in the second chapter, creeping near the rock, had overheard her words, and had cried, "Then you are not my sister!" "It is my brother! my own brother's voice. He has been near--has heard all!" shrieked Alibamo. Then checking herself, she said, in a low tone: "He thinks you a rebel, Harry! He forswears me! How can I undeceive him?" "The guard has fired upon him. The camp is aroused--they are beating the long-roll. It is a desperate hazard now!" "But my brother?" "Quick--give me your apron--I will wave it--he may see its colors--and sing--sing, Alibamo--sing the Star-spangled Banner!" Harry seized the apron, and commenced waving it, and Alibamo began to sing. "Silence!" cried Hayward, who came up at that moment. "Silence that traitorous song. And give me that ensign of abolitionism. For shame, young man. Love has made you blind. Don't you see that the lady's apron which you are waving is a federal flag? It may be very romantic to meet young ladies at midnight on a moonlit-rock, and whisper love-tales; but _you_, sir, must not wave such things as this, merely to conciliate angry brothers. Now, go to camp, sir, and if I catch you at such tricks again, I shall order your arrest. I will take charge of the lady." "Here are her guard sir," said Harry, in a subdued tone. "Ah! yes. Are you mounted, boys?" "No, captain." "Then get within the lines as soon as possible. The federal army are advancing, and are within a few miles of us, and their scouts are but a short distance from this point. I have a horse, and will make my servant dismount and give the lady his horse!" "All right, captain," replied the sergeant in command of the squad He had seen Hayward that day several times, and had no doubt he was just what he appeared. Hayward had brought his own horse and that rode by Nettleton, within a few feet of the spot where he was then standing. The adjutant had already disappeared, as the captain handed the lady into the saddle and mounted his own horse. As he turned into the main road, a mounted orderly from the camp rode up to the squad and asked: "Have you seen that fellow who was around camp to-day and pretended to be from McIntosh--the one that kissed Alibamo?" "Yes, there he is, just--why he is going _from_ the camp instead of toward it!" "It is Captain Harry Hayward, of the federal army, and a spy. Fire upon him!" A discharge of musketry rang through the woods, but the captain and his charge were too well covered by the trees and the darkness to be injured by it. Captain Hayward heard the question, and striking his horse with the spur, he dashed forward at a rapid rate, followed by the whole party. "The story I told the guard of the advancing army," said Hayward, "will prevent an immediate pursuit. But Price will know it is not true, and in an hour we shall be hotly followed. We must make the best of our time!"