And then, to the ears of the two prisoners who stood looking at one another with sad eyes, came a sound which made both men start and look again with apprehension written on their faces—the shrill scream of a child who is being kept from something she has set her heart upon. Another moment and there was a rush of tiny feet in the hall, whereupon the two sentries crossed their rifles across the doorway. But what might have proved a serious obstruction for a man was only an absurdity to a child's quick wit and Virgie, with a little duck of her sunny head, dodged quickly under the muskets and charged, flushed and panting, on the General's desk.
"You shan't shoot Colonel Morrison," cried this astonishing new comer in tones of shrill command as she stamped her little foot: "I won't let you! You shan't! You shan't!"
A moment of displeased surprise on the part of the General. Then—
"Take the child out of here," he ordered.
"I won't go!" answered Virgie, tossing her curls back and standing her ground with' angry eyes.
"Orderly!" called the General.
With a whirl Virgie dashed away from the desk, eluded the orderly and threw herself into her father's arms.
"Oh, Daddy, Daddy! You won't let him shoot the Colonel. Daddy, you won't! You won't!" She burst into a passionate flood of tears.
Cary lifted his hand to the General in a plea for a moment's respite from force.
"General—please. She'll go."