"Oh! my beauty, he does not speak your name first! But perhaps he hopes for assistance. He shall have it soon!" "Mamie--Mamie--sister--closer to my heart. I'm cold--co----" The sound died upon his lips. "And hark, yours is not the second name he speaks. He has a sister whom he loves. And I will have _her_ too! _She_ shall be in my power--oh! I will wring his heart. Oh! I cannot speak my exultant joy. My very heart is burning within me as I see before me this glorious prospect for revenge." "You are foiled in that, villain that you are. His sister is far beyond your reach, in the bosom of her Northern home." "But I'll find her--I'll have her in my power merely to torture him if it costs ma millions. Don't let him die. Tear open his vest--see where he is wounded, and wash it with liquor--it will prolong his life." Some of the soldiers did as they were bid. "There is a letter. Give it me. Ah! by the Eternal! 'tis signed, '_your loving sister, Mamie!_' And here is the name of her home. Now, Alibamo, what say you? Is she not in my power? And not only she, but all his family shall suffer. I hate the tribe. You said I could not find her. I'll write to-night and tell her that her brother is wounded and wishes her presence at once. She will come, and she shall see me torture him!" "What benefit or gratification will that afford you, Branch?" asked Alibamo. "Why, this is a tender epistle. This Hayward loves his sister, and if she is gazing upon his pangs, it will be doubly keen to him, knowing she sees it. He will feel all her sufferings and his own. Ah! Hayward speaks again!" "Alibamo! Alibamo!" "Stop his mouth--tear his tongue out. He shall not speak your name." Branch struck the fallen man across his face with his heavy iron scabbard. The blood spirted from his mouth and nostrils, but he moved not. As the soldiers applied the fluid to his wounds, Hayward showed evidence of pain, but did not speak. "The ball has passed directly under the right arm, and must have entered the lungs. He will not live," said one of the soldiers. "He shall live!" cried Branch. "He _must_ live. Tie him on one of the horses and let us be off." This order was obeyed promptly. It seemed as if the fiend which urged on the actions of that bad man, had, from very shame, left his breast, and he silently took the lead, and with Alibamo by his side, the squadron set off at a rapid rate. For many miles they kept on their course toward the camp of the rebels. At length they turned their direction across the mountain. As they ascended to the summit, Alibamo asked: "Whither are you going, Branch?" "Look yonder. Don't you see the army moving. It is our army. We are going to Springfield." "You are retreating like cowards as you are!" replied Alibamo, with a sneer. The only reply from Branch was a blow upon the head of the senseless captain. "Thus will I revenge every word of insult you speak to me!"