"You will revenge but little more, for he is nearly gone. But you are mistaken if you deem him my lover. I never saw him until to-day." "I do not believe you," replied Branch. "Did you not hear him speak the name of Harry Hinton?" "I did." "Harry is the one I love. Captain Hayward spoke that name that I might recognize him as a friend. Harry was with the captain, and has escaped, and wo to you, Branch, when he returns!" "Bah! Think you that I can be frightened from my purpose? No! Besides, I do not believe one word you have said. Has Hayward spoken recently?" asked Branch. "Yes, several times. But he is evidently suffering great pain from riding in this manner, and he faints in an instant after the return of his reason," replied one of the soldiers. "O Branch! in mercy do not torture this poor man in this manner," said Alibamo, imploringly. "We will overtake an ambulance in an hour, and then I will transfer him to one of them." "May I be permitted to attend upon him?" asked Alibamo. "Would it be a great gratification to you?" "Oh! yes; very great!" "Then you shan't. Now speak of him no more." In a short time an ambulance was overtaken, and Branch said: "Place Hayward in that ambulance. If he is carried on horseback, he will die, and I shall lose my revenge!" "Let me handle the _darn skunk_!" said one of the party, as he advanced through the crowd. "I'm used to handlin' just such darned skunks as he is!" "Be careful!" said Branch, as this peculiar looking object lifted Hayward from the horse. "Oh! guess there's no occasion to be too careful. Such dam skunks as him ain't so easy killed." Hayward was placed in the ambulance. "Who will volunteer to remain with him?" asked Branch. No one replied. "Will you?" asked Branch, turning to the person who had volunteered to assist Hayward from his horse. "Well, yes--that is if nobody else won't. But I don't like such work very much." "And let six mounted guard march behind. I will go forward and report to the general. Here, Peters, take charge of Alibamo until I return." Matters thus arranged, Branch rode forward. The army proceeded but a few miles farther. In a short time after the halt, Branch returned and riding up to the ambulance, he asked of the attendant: "How is the captain?" "He is asleep, and seems to breathe much easier, the darn skunk!" "Has he spoken at all?" "No; I did not wake him!" "Take him around to the tent of the general," said Branch, addressing the driver. "Ay, ay, sir!" "Shall I go along?" asked the attendant. "Yes, you may attend upon him for the present. Treat him well, as I wish him to recover." "Oh! I'm a kind o' doctor, and I'll do the best I can by him," was the reply. In a short time Hayward was brought to the tent of Price. "Is he conscious?" asked the general. "No!" "Place him in that vacant tent, and let a surgeon attend him. It is highly important that he should live. Have you searched him for papers?" "Not yet!"