ACT III.
The prison at Columbus. A large, bare room, built of gray stone. At the back and to the left a door with heavy iron bars leading to the whitewashed corridor, where a lantern is hanging. A smaller door on right leading to another room of the prison. High up in the wall (Left) is a window with iron bars across it. At the back are two straw mattresses, with old army blankets on them. To the right a pile of straw which has evidently served as a bed. On each side of the stage there is a rough wooden bench. It is 11 o'clock on the night of May 22nd. The moon shines brightly in at the window. The prison clock slowly strikes the hour as the curtain rises. A soldier dressed in a torn white shirt and trousers of Confederate gray, lies asleep on the straw. Two soldiers lie stretched on the floor at front of stage (Right), two others walking restlessly about, while another is reading by the stump of a candle stuck in a bottle.
First Soldier. Has he been in for the last time to-night?
[He lifts a bit of candle on the floor and puts it near them.
Second Soldier. I reckon not. I haven't heard the big door close outside.
First Soldier. I say, let's play a game of checkers. We can hide it if he comes.
Second Soldier. How'll we play—what with?
First Soldier. Just you watch here. (Takes a bit of chalk out of his pocket and marks off a checker board on the floor. How's that? He'll never see it.
Second Soldier. We'll use bits of straw for men. Here—
[He breaks bits of straw and they begin to play.