Zina. Don’t fear for me.
Halcom. I will not accept my life, even, at the slightest risk to your own.
Zina. Do not hesitate. If you do, you are lost.
Halcom. Tell me, on honor, is there any danger for yourself? (Enter Brightly, with squad of men, for execution, R.)
Zina. On my honor, I shall be safe. Watch for the rope. I join you at your own camp. (Zina springs to rear of cabin, and ascends to roof, while Brightly is saying)—
Brightly. Sentinel, bring out the prisoner. (Meantime Zina is tugging to get off a board. Sentinel finds door fast.) Break down the door; there is an attempt to escape! (Rebs rush at door, one with an axe. Zina gets off first board at word “escape.” Heavy firing, long roll, L.) Some to the roof! Smash the door! (Zina gets off second board at word “door;” then fires at rebs climbing up sides, when they retreat. Brightly to rebs retreating, sword drawn. Gets off third board.) Back to the roof, cowards, or I will spit you like dogs. Get a log and crush it! (Meantime, she fires again, drives them back, and gets off fourth board.)
Soldier. (Entering L. in haste.) The Yanks are bridging the river.
Brightly. Fight them like hell! (Fourth board drops; rebs crash in the door. Zina screams, flings rope into tree, and drops it through hole. Meantime shots inside cabin, and rebs tumble out door. Halcom climbs up a rope to roof. Rebs climb cabin to catch him on roof. As H. arrives on roof, Zina pushes him off rear into the water, and turns on the rebs.)
Zina. (Drawing knife.) Back, you cowards, or I kill you this time! (Brightly dashes to R. rear. Curtain. Encore.)
(Curtain rises on last tableau, except Zina has seized the rope. Suddenly she places her knife in her teeth, springs off rear, and swings into the water. Brightly dashes off building to L.)