"Can it be possible?" he thought. "Oh! if I have wounded that heart, however unintentionally, I shall never forgive myself."
"Lane," whispered McAllister, when the former entered his room, "there are guards about the house."
"I'm not surprised," was the despondent reply. "We are prisoners."
"Does the family know it?"
He told him how Suwanee had detected the espionage of the rebel sergeant.
"Wouldn't she help us?"
"I shall not ask her to. I shall not compromise her with her people."
"No, by thunder! I'd rather spend my life in prison than harm her.
What shall we do?"
"We must put our light out soon, and take turns in watching for the slightest opportunity. You lie down first. I do not feel sleepy."
After making some slight preparations the doctor slept, and it was well on towards morning before Lane's crowding thoughts permitted him to seek repose. He then wakened McAllister and said, "There has been a stealthy relief of guards thus far, and I've seen no chance whatever."