HALCOM. The next flash of lightning revealed her on the roof, with her knife drawn, holding the traitors at bay, that I might escape. I sprang back for the shore. I heard a splash in the water. The next lightning flash revealed her battling the rapids of the river to gain the other shore. A shot from the rebel side, and all was dark again. I sprang after her. Two hours I have frantically searched this bank of the river, without avail. She has perished in the rapids of the river, or by that coward shot from the rebel rifle, and I live like a coward! (_Zina staggers in at R. U. E., as if unconscious of the presence of any one; wounded in the left side of the head, often looking behind to see if she is pursued. She staggers and is about to fall, when she is discovered by Halcom, who springs forward, and catches her in his arms. Sherman tears off his military cloak, and wraps it about her._) HALCOM. She has fainted. SHERMAN. And is wounded. (_They revive her._) ZINA. Please let me stay on this side of the river. SHERMAN. Let you stay on this side of the river! I will shoot any man who attempts to prevent it! You shall command this army if you like. (_Zina faints again._) HALCOM. The poor child is dying. SHERMAN. Not a bit of it. She is too smart to die! Take her to my quarters. Orderly, here! (_Enter Ord. L. U. E.; with Halcom takes her out, L. U. E._) Have my surgeon attend that girl, and tell him if he lets her die, I will hang him an hour after. (_Exit Ord. L._) I am the biggest ass in the service. If I ever abuse a woman again, I hope I may be shot by an idiot! (_Exit L. Enter Barney and Hez. L. U. E._) BARNEY. Now whin I would be arrestin’ a blackguard like that, don’t you be a botherin’ me. HEZEKIAH. Now you git out. I guess it was jest about as cheap for him ter git away, as it would be for you to get a collapse in your real estate. (_Set guns against tree, sit down and wipe perspiration, &c._) BARNEY. Now look in these two eyes of me. Didn’t ye be kickin’ that blackguard whin I would be takin’ him? HEZEKIAH. I rayther kalkerlate you was on the pint er passin’ in yer chips when I lit on that critter. BARNEY. Ah ha! I’m nobody, I s’pose. Was I? HEZEKIAH. I guess that feller was the most astonished piece er meat I ever traveled over. I kalkerlate that when I lit on the other eend of his corperation, he come to the conklusion that he was wrastlin’ with a first-class earthquake. BARNEY. I don’t care about thim airthquakes. I want none er thim. My reputashin is spit upon. HEZEKIAH. I reckon I never jumped onter anything in that line er critter that wanted ter go home so bad as he did. BARNEY. Now look in me two eyes and be talkin’ honest about it, and no braggin’. Didn’t ye be makin’ that blackguard get away when I would arrest him?