“Silence, Captain Walker. Soldiers, you have human hearts, and this man has not. I appeal to you. Save me! Find my brother and return him safely, and I promise to pay you one thousand dollars each. If I fail to do this, I swear, by the hope of heaven, that I will become the wife of one of you, the choice to be decided by lots between you!” These words acted like an electric shock upon the soldiers. They sprung to their feet and confronted Walker. But he had anticipated the effects of her words, and stood sword and revolver in hand. “You would play me false!” demanded Walker, fiercely. “Guess I would!” replied Jim. “Take that, then!” yelled Walker. The report of a pistol echoed through the valley, and Jim fell without so much as a groan. “And how do _you_ decide?” asked Walker, turning and pointing his revolver toward Dick. “I was only goin’ to help you. I ain’t no such foolish cuss as to think of marrying a fine lady like that! I’m all right!” “Prove yourself so, and you shall _have_ your thousand. Deceive me, and you share his fate!” As Walker spoke he stepped to a clump of thick bushes, and drew a small boat from concealment. Handing Miss Hayward to a seat, and preceded by Dick, Walker entered, and the little craft swept gently along with the current, down the stream. They had proceeded but a short distance, when Miss Hayward burst forth, and sung a wild, thrilling air, which echoed far and wide, through the valley and across the hills. There was something strangely beautiful in her song, and something still more strange in her actions. As each strain echoed over the hills, and gave back the ringing notes, she would start, and listen attentively, and a gleam of joy would lighten up her pale face, upon which a shade of disappointment would almost as soon appear. Her hearers sat in silence, and in apparent wonder. “Those words are significant!” exclaimed Walker. “What is their import?” “_She’s_ going mad, too, I opine!” exclaimed Dick. “Better _let_ her go!” “Silence!” cried Walker. “Miss Hayward, do you think your voice will penetrate _his_ retreat?” She made no answer, but, as the little boat swept onward, ever and anon the same words, and the same wild music broke the stillness of the forest, now sounding like a wail of sorrow, and then becoming almost hushed in hopeful expectation. The words had the appearance of being extemporized for the occasion, and were as follows: