I asked if it was Oliver who shot him, and she nodded. "It was down at the front door; the Squire said he'd shoot him if he shot Charlotte, and Charlotte declared she'd shoot him if he shot the Squire, and all at once he shot at her and struck him." "Who was it that screamed; was it she?" My informant's head drooped low and she murmured, "It was I." "Then _you_ were at the front." "Did you think I was at the rear?" I fear I answered evasively. I added that I must go to Lieutenant Ferry, and started toward the door, but she touched my arm. "Oh, Dick, you should have heard him praise you to her!--and when he said you had chased Captain Jewett and was missing, she cried; but now I'll tell her you're here." She started away but returned. "Oh, Dick, isn't it wonderful how we're always victorious! why don't those poor Yankees give up the struggle? they must see that God is on our side!" As she left me, Ned Ferry came out with a sad face, but smiled gladly on me and caught me fondly by the arm. On hearing my brief report he saddened more than ever, and when I said I had promised Jewett he should hand his sword to none but him, "Oh!"--he smiled tenderly--"I don't want to refuse it; go in and hang it at the head of his bed as he would do in his own tent; I'll wait here." I pointed to the door he had softly closed behind him: "How is it in there?" "Ah, Richard, in there the war is all over." "Dead?" "So called." XXXVI "SAYS QUINN, S'E" Lieutenant Helm came out as I went in, and I paused an instant to ask him in fierce suspicion if he had bandaged his hand himself. "No," he whispered, "Miss Camille." It was a lie, but I did not learn that until months after. "Come downstairs as soon as you can," he added, "there's a hot supper down there; first come first served." We parted. I found Miss Harper fanning the wounded giant and bathing his brows, and my smiles were ample explanation of my act as I hung the sword up. Then I brought in my leader. "Captain Jewett," he said after a nearly silent exchange of greetings, "I wish we had you uninjured." "Ah, no, Lieutenant, this is bad enough. Lieutenant, there is one matter--" "Yes, Captain, what is that?" "The villain who set those fires--you know who he is, I hope." "Yes, Captain, I know." "He didn't begin that until after he left me. I had some private reasons for not killing him when I might have done it." "Yes, Captain, I know that, too." "Yet if I had caught him again I would have strung him up to the first limb." "I have sent some picked men to catch him if they can," said Ferry, and the racked sufferer lifted a hand in approval. Camille came to her aunt and whispered "Mr. Gholson with two doctors." The wounded captive heard her. "Lieutenant," he panted, "I hope you'll--do me the favor--to let my turn with those gentlemen--come last,--after my boys,--will you?" "Ah! Captain, even our boys wouldn't allow that; no, here's a doctor, now."