HEZEKIAH. Now, Irish, you just spill your gas in some other line er preachin’, er else I’ll let him get your guzzle next time. (_Enter Brightly and rebel soldiers, R. U. E., stealthily, seize the guns and cover both._) BARNEY. Now whin I arrest a blackguard again, don’t you be botherin’ me. BRIGHTLY. Throw up your hands! (_Points gun at them._) BAR. (_Turning in surprise._) Stop that! That gun is loaded. HEZEKIAH. (_Throws off coat._) If I don’t make him drop that gun. (_Turns and meets gun—subsides._) BRIGHTLY. Surrender, or I’ll kill you like a dog. HEZEKIAH. Don’t care ef I dew. BRIGHTLY., (_pointing R. U. E._) Step into line there. (_Both comply._) HEZEKIAH. Say? Got eny terbacker in yer trowsis? BRIGHTLY. Shut your mouth and march now, or I will see what virtue there is in this gun. HEZEKIAH. (_March off R. U. E._) Don’t care if I dew. SCENE 2. _Gen. Hood’s headquarters._ Gen. seated at table, rear centre. D’Arneaux and two guards, L., facing R. HOOD. Lt. D’Arneaux, when you entered the military service, I believed that you would soon wear the stars of a division commander. Instead, you have presented us with the strange anomaly of patriot and traitor. While to me you have presented a soul of honor, you have sought every opportunity to strike your country a cowardly blow in the dark! D’A. And I deny the falsehood with my whole soul and life. HOOD. Under the circumstances, a denial is wholly unnecessary. You have had a fair trial. No one regrets more than myself the military necessity that compels me to sign the warrant for your execution. Your brilliant military record is no excuse for disloyalty, and a most flagrant treason. D’A. As I expect to meet God before the next sunset, that accusation is doubly false, though it comes from your own lips! HOOD. There are a score of witnesses who saw you attempt the life of your superior officer. (_D’A. hangs his head in silence._) If there had never occurred another offence, the articles of war meet you with the bullet. (_To guards._) Remove the prisoner to the care of the guard. (_Ex. D’A. and guard, L._) Orderly! (_Enter rebel Orderly, L. U. E._) Take this dispatch to Gen. McGruder. (_Exit Ord. with dispatch. Enter Keele Brightly, L., salutes._) BRIGHTLY. I have the honor to report that I have captured two Yankees, found lurking within our lines as spies. HOOD. Have them brought in. (_Brightly salutes and retires, L._) The camp is swarming with them! It is utterly useless to attempt to prevent it without recourse to the most severe measures! This careless indifference of the guards allows a constant betrayal of my means of defence. (_Enter Brightly, L., followed by Hez. and Barney, under guard._) The guard will retire. (_Exit guard, R. Brightly observes R._)