“Then all I ask is, that you send this handkerchief to Colonel Mann, and tell him the murderer didn’t wash in a basin in his tent, but in the river, and then threw this wiper away; and that the guilty one has _two hearts_, made with nails, on the sole of each boot. And tell Sally—no, Mamie—that the captain is—Lieutenant Wells—and Walker—the skunk, when I’m dead—that Sally—no, capt’n, won’t think of poor Nettleton—and—” “Oh stop! stop! William, I can never recollect all this. You had better go yourself and attend to this matter.” “What, General? Do you mean it?” cried William, as he sprung from the scaffold and gazed earnestly at Price. “On one condition I will permit you to go.” “Well, what is it?” “That as soon as you have given your evidence in the court-martial which will probably be ordered, you will return at once _and be hung_.” “I’ll do it; I’m a loafer if I don’t.” “You swear it?” “Yes, by the great jumping jingo, and Sally Long’s tearful eyes!” “The guard will see this man safely beyond our lines,” said Price, speaking to one of his officers, “and furnish him a pass and a horse. Let one of our men accompany him near to the Federal lines, and bring back the animal which William will ride.” Nettleton rushed forward, and grasping the hand of Price, shook it violently, and then exclaimed, as he took his leave: “General Price, you ain’t such a darn sneak as I thought you was!” CHAPTER V. _The Court-martial and the Hostage._ THE division which had been encamped on Grand Prairie reached Springfield in safety, and formed their temporary camp in the field, back of the brick school-house, which stands about a quarter of a mile to the west of the new court-house. The first order issued to the officers of the battalion of Benton Cadets, the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-seventh Illinois, was to assemble at a given time, to act upon a court-martial, at the quarters of Major D—, Judge-Advocate, to try the case of Lieutenant Edward Wells, charged with willful murder of Harry Hayward, a captain in the service of the United States of America, and attached to the army of the Mississippi, now under command of Major-General Hunter.