HEZEKIAH. (_Looking at Sherman, and then aside._) Jewrusalem! That was the old Gineral I run into last night. Now I’ve gone and spilt the apple sass all over the best table cloth. (_Turns and grasps Sherman’s hands._) How de dew? I know’d that was you last night, all the time. Ain’t I the wust blackguard you ever run into? SHERMAN. Bring in that prisoner, sir. I will deal with you when there is less business on hand. HEZEKIAH. (_Attempting to leave._) Jess you say. I spose you boss this cahoot. (_Turns back._) Say, you keep your eye peeled. He’s a darn pizen critter. He may try to get your guzzle. (_Exit Hez. L._) SHERMAN. Is that man insane or a fool? HALCOM. Neither. He is one of the rough diamonds of the army: the very first man I enlisted in the old Bay State. Brave as a lion, and keen as a razor. SHERMAN. Why, the rascal would have thrashed me blind last night, but for my revolver. HALCOM. Indeed! His patriotism drifts only in the rudeness of its native channel. I put up with his familiarities, because he cannot understand the necessity for military etiquette. (_Crosses to L. front. Enter Hez. and Barney, L. U. E., driving Brightly ahead of them, hands bound behind him._) HEZEKIAH. (_To Sherman._) Name it and you can have it. SHERMAN. (_To Hez._) Untie his hands. (_Hez. unties, &c._) Sir, I hear that you have been arrested as a spy. BRIGHTLY. I am a prisoner of war. SHERMAN. Now I remember—you have once before been convicted of spying, and escaped. (_Halcom crosses to R. turns, when both start from recognition._) HALCOM. The assassin of my family! BRIGHTLY. Of whom do you speak? HALCOM. Yourself, coward! BRIGHTLY. Then you may consider yourself a liar! HALCOM. (_To Sherman._) During the last fifteen years, I have hunted this brute through the slave yards and gambling hells of the south. Now he shall answer to me. You shall meet me with the favorite weapon of your cowardice. BRIGHTLY. I am unarmed. HALCOM. (_Throwing his knife at Brightly’s feet._) So am I. BRIGHTLY. (_To Sherman._) Am I to be murdered while a helpless prisoner? HALCOM. Take the knife, coward! (_Holding up his empty hands._) My mother was helpless! SHERMAN. (_Stepping between and taking hold of Halcom’s arm._) Not now, Halcom. The military law shall accomplish all you desire. (_Brightly seizes the knife from the floor, and dashes like lightning forward to stab Sherman in the back. Hez. seizes him instantly, wrests the knife from him, and flings him to L._) HEZEKIAH. You darn sneakin’ dog, you! HALCOM. Your own life! SHERMAN. (_To Hez._) Remove the prisoner! See to it that he is well ironed. I will deal with him tomorrow! HEZEKIAH. (_To Sherman._) Say, General, if it don’t make no difference to you, I’d like ter make this critter inter a stuffed pirate for Barnum’s circus. SHERMAN. I said remove him, and I hold you responsible if he escapes!