"There was a hand there. It held a bit of paper!"
Alibamo sprang forward, and seized the paper which was lying on the ground. She held it to the light, and then exclaimed aloud, as if unconscious of what she said:
"It is my brother's writing—friends are near!" Then, as if suddenly recollecting herself, she turned to the attendant and said:
"Oh! do not betray me, I beg—I implore!"
"I ain't no such darn skunk. Let me tell you something."
The attendant spoke in a whisper. Alibamo started, clasped his hand, kissed it convulsively. "Dear, good fellow!" she said through her tears.
"There—oh! don't—O Christopher!—I shall have to blubber, and then all will be up with us!" cried the fellow, as he twisted and hopped around the tent like one suffering pain.