The adjutant who held the sealed orders of the court-martial by which Lieutenant Wells had been tried, then advanced, and was about to commence reading the document in his hand, when a series of yells were heard, and in the distance was seen the grotesque form of Nettleton, as he came bounding along and bellowing: “Stop the shootin’! Stop the shootin’!” It was well known throughout the army that Nettleton had remained behind in search of Captain Hayward. As he approached, the most intense excitement was manifest. Lieutenant Wells could scarcely control his feelings, and would have rushed forward to meet Nettleton, had not Mrs. Hinton gently laid her hand upon his arm, begging him to be calm. Miss Hayward clung closer to her lover, as she hoped the news about to be brought by her brother’s friend would relieve her agony of suspense. A half-suppressed cheer broke from the soldiers, as Nettleton burst into the square. He paused for a moment, his breast heaving, and his eyes glaring wildly. But an instant was sufficient for him to discover that Wells was yet alive, and that the object of his suspicion also lived. He sprung forward, and, without uttering a word, seized Walker by the foot, which he at once drew under his arm; then he as suddenly bounded for the spot where the commandant was standing, dragging the foot along with him. Of course this sudden movement on the part of Nettleton had thrown Walker violently upon his head, and, although he kicked, and squirmed and cursed, he was dragged along as if he had been a child. When Nettleton reached the commander, he held the foot of Walker within a few inches of that officer’s face, and yelled: “Look! look! General—see them boots!” Notwithstanding the intense anxiety felt for the result of Nettleton’s search, the ridiculous figure he presented in his eagerness, and that of Walker who was twisting and struggling to escape, a general laugh ran through the division, which was joined in by the commander. Even Wells could not suppress a smile. “And what about those boots?” asked the commander, after silence had been restored. “Why, I’ve blacked them!” yelled Nettleton. Another laugh was heard along the line. “No doubt you have blacked them. But what of this?” “Why, General, don’t you see them _two hearts_ made with nails, on the sole of that boot?” “Certainly I see them. And what then?” Walker was now permitted to resume his upright position, and he stood trembling with fear and rage, as Nettleton went on to relate his first suspicions of Walker, his search for the body of Captain Hayward, his finding the impression of the footprints standing side by side in the mud, at the edge of the stream, with the marks of _two hearts_ in the sole of each boot; and then the finding of the handkerchief in the water, which Nettleton then produced. The officer took the white linen witness, examining it closely, and then said: