“Do not speak so coldly. I will be frank with you. Your brother is a prisoner—not in the Confederate camp, but in a secure place, on the very stream beside which you are now sitting. The murmuring and singing of these very waters will, ere two hours, greet his ears with the same strain. Warble those strains to which I have so often listened while in camp, and which stirred my soul, and they will be borne direct to your brother’s hearing, to relieve his brain perhaps from the insanity which now enchains him!” “Insanity!” echoed Mamie. “My brother insane?” “He is a raving maniac! And but one thing can restore him!” “Oh wretched, horrible news! What _can_ I do to save my brother?” “You are the only person who _can_ save him. Nor is the task a hard one. Only a few miles from here is a Confederate camp. A chaplain is in attendance. He will perform the ceremony which will make you irrevocably and securely mine. Go with me. Become my wife, and to-morrow I will take you to your brother, and we will not only restore his shackled feet to liberty, but his shattered senses to reason. We alone can do it. Can you assume the responsibility of a refusal?” Miss Hayward remained silent for a few moments, and then gazed alternately at the three villains. An unnatural fire lit up her eyes. At length she said: “Captain Walker, I do not know but you are even now deceiving me. You may not know any thing about where my brother is.” “Ask these soldiers,” replied Walker. Miss Hayward turned her eyes upon them. “The captain speaks right,” answered Jim. “He _does_ know where your brother is. He _is_ crazy and is chained in the—” “Silence!” commanded Walker. “Do you believe, Miss Mamie?” “I must believe the worst,” answered Miss Hayward. “Soldiers,” she added, turning to the soldiers, “do you believe in the truth of Captain Walker’s profession of love for me?” “I should like to know why not!” replied Jim, doggedly. “Nobody could _help_ loving you; even I loves you, but I know it ain’t no use, and so I don’t say nothing!” “What have _you_ to say?” asked Mamie, turning to the other soldier. “Lord, Miss Mamie, I allers loved you, but ‘stupid Dick’ never thinks of such as you, and so I acted mean just to spite!” “Gentlemen,” cried Miss Hayward, springing to her feet, “listen to me. You have wronged me deeply, by aiding this wretched villain, your captain, to abduct me. I despise, loathe him; and, sooner than become _his_ wife, I would permit my brother to die as he is, for I know that he would curse me were I to save him at such a sacrifice. It will be _but_ death, and I shall suffer very little, for my brother’s pure soul will scarce have taken its flight, ere mine will follow!” “Miss Hayward!”