"I fear all is lost. Branch will not permit the captain to remain long in Springfield, as I am told the Union army is advancing. He will be hurried off South, and I suppose we shall be separated to-day. Very likely neither of us will be permitted to go with him." "You will, miss." "How do you know this?" "I'll tell you. Last night I crept close to the tent of Branch and listened. I heard him giving directions to some one he was about to send forward. I heard him say you were to go with him, and that your room would be in the hotel at Springfield which is now used as the rebel hospital. And the captain is to be imprisoned in the cellar of the same building." "Are you to go with us?" "I shall go, but as soon as I find out what is to be done, I shall go somewhere else." "You don't intend to leave the captain?" "Yes, I do!" "What! Forsake him now!" "Who the devil said anything about forsaking him? There's a good deal of difference between leaving and forsaking, I take it." "I know you will act for the best, my good fellow!" "Strike tents!" echoed through the camp from without. "Had we not better wake the captain, Miss Alibamo? It may be the only chance he will get to say anything." "He is moving--he wakes!" Captain Hayward opened his eyes, and gazed around. His face while sleeping had worn a smile, but it had faded. "Good morning, dear friends," said Hayward. "You have been watching with me all night, I fear." "We have slept, however--that is, I have slept," answered Alibamo. "I fear but little. You must not do this, Alibamo; you will sink under the fatigues you impose upon yourself. You will require all your strength. And have you slept, Nettleton?" "Do you think I'd be such a darn skunk as to sleep when I might be doing something? No, I ain't quite so mean as that." "What have you been doing?" "Making up my mind--that's all." "And I have been dreaming, Alibamo. Oh! It was a heavenly vision!" "What were you dreaming, captain?"