D’A. Some of those men are now standing guard around this building. You were then a helpless infant in the cradle. Old Milly, the nurse, escaped with you to the wood. Two days after you were both kidnapped by Brightly, taken to his plantation in Alabama, where he raised you as a slave. At the time of the murder, your brother Frank, at the age of 12 years, was educating in the free schools of New England. During the last 15 years he has not ceased to search for the murderer of his family. He has no knowledge that you have been saved from the burning home. Within the last three years, Brightly has repeatedly tried to sell you to cotton planters on the coast. Only my vigilance and the color of your skin have prevented it. It was Brightly’s hand that sent the bullet after your life, on the night of your brother’s escape. If you are found here, your life is lost. Go now. Day is breaking. God bless you. Remember my mother. (_Distant rapid firing._) ZINA. (_Springing to her feet and listening,_) Hark! My brother is coming! D’A. Escape while you can. Quick, or you will be lost! ZINA. (_Flings off turban._) I will defend you until his sword shall save us! D’A. You cannot, you are a weak girl! (_Zina bars the door and slings carbine on belt._) ZINA. So I can fight and die with you! (_Rebs. attack the door furiously. Zina holds it._) D’A. This building is mined and you will be blown to atoms. (_Zina holds the door._) ZINA. I have filled the powder with water! D’A. You will be killed. Conceal yourself beneath the floor. (_Rebs. knock holes in middle of door with an axe._) HEZEKIAH. Yes, go, Zina. God bless yer brave little heart. BARNEY. Please go, little girl, ye can’t do us no good! (_Heavy, increasing firing R. Blows on the door rapid and continuous. She holds it._) D’A. You cannot defend us! (_Zina seizes carbine and, springing back, exclaims:_) ZINA. I am a Halcom! This rifle shall avenge my mother’s life. (_Confederates smash the door until they knock it to pieces. Then the door breaks down and a crowd of rebels rush through, 5 rapid shots from Zina and they retreat to outside, 3 men fall. She drops the old and seizes another carbine as Brightly urges them back. Five more shots throw them into a crowding confusion at the door, when she stops firing from unloading. Brightly and six soldiers rush to left front. Zina draws knife to defend prisoners._) BRIGHTLY. (_As he and soldiers dash to L._) Kill the prisoners. (_Soldiers spring forward to bayonet them and are met by Zina._) ZINA. Who strikes the helpless is a coward! (_Soldiers hesitate, with bayonets at her breast._) BRIGHTLY. You shall be food for my dogs! ZINA. Coward! Thief! Assassin of my mother! BRIGHTLY. So you bite the hand that fed you to life! ZINA. My hands have earned your bread and mine! BRIGHTLY. (_To soldiers._) Kill her! (_Halcom dashes in R. followed by soldiers, who cover rebs._)