HOOD. (_Turning to go._) Good day, sir. HEZEKIAH. Say? You jest keep your eye peeled, or them Johnnies will get your hair. (_Exit Hood—R._) That’s a darn nice old critter. But I don’t think he’s so bright as some folks, or else he wouldn’t be caterwaulin’ round here on the picket line alone. He don’t know nothin’ about war! I’ll be darned if I don’t think I’ve got stuck some myself. Down east, you can foller the tellegraff poles. They hain’t got scarcely any on ’em in this heathen country. This is about the meanest place I ever travelled in. If I hain’t eat my peck of dirt 250 times since I hit this land er snakes, you can chaw my ear. I hain’t had a good square wash for over two years. My hide would raise pertaters stouter than a down-east cut-down. (_Shot from R., and his hat flies into L. wings._) Gosh all Jewpiter, if that critter hasn’t spil’t my best hat. (_Chasing it out L. Other shots, and two rebel soldiers creep on R. A shot from L.; one falls, and the other retreats. Hez. comes on L._) There ain’t no two Johnnies can drive me. (_Feels of the dead rebel._) Bet ye tew dollars and a half that critter won’t get well. (_Exit L. slowly, looking back often. Brightly creeps on from R._) BRIGHTLY. Those Yankee pickets will shoot the rear guard through the camp yet. (_Looking out, R._) Come here. (_Enter Zina, hatless and ragged._) I have spotted you. If you attempt to escape again, I will shoot you at sight! What are you skulking around here for? ZINA. I was lost; I did not know where I was going. BRIGHTLY. You lie! Why do you follow my lieutenant’s footsteps so much like a cur? You are my property. Not a dog. What do you hope for? That he will buy you? He can never do that. Not if his house was solid gold, and he offered me all he had. White niggers are hard to manage, but I am the man that never failed on one yet. Look at me! (_Zina looks at him in terror._) If you speak to him again, I will flog your hide off. ZINA. Oh, he is all the friend I have in the wide world. BRIGHTLY. Who feeds your hungry maw and rags your lousy hide? ZINA. When my heart is almost breaking, and I beg for God to let me die, the kind words he speaks make me hope again so much— BRIGHTLY. In love, hey? A nigger, a field hand, in love with a gentleman! At least, he passes himself off for one. Within twelve hours, I will take the pimp out of his proud strut. ZINA. Oh, I am such a miserable slave to love so good a master as he. He is too noble to do a wrong to any one. BRIGHTLY. While he has dogged my footsteps when I leave the camp with you, and has twice incited you to escape? ZINA. Heaven is my witness, he _did_ not do that. BRIGHTLY. I will have an end of this! Today he volunteered to enter the enemy’s camp as a spy—ostensibly as a deserter. He will be betrayed! ZINA. Do with me as you will, and I will never complain; but he is innocent.