A groan broke from Miss Hayward, but Alibamo quickly replied:
"Don't fear, darling, the Body-guard came just in time to rescue him, and he will soon be with us!"
"Are you sure of that?" asked one of the party.
"I know it will be so. There will be large parties sent in every direction, and you will be surely overtaken!" answered Alibamo.
"Let us forward, then," replied one of the rebels, his cheeks blenching with fear.
"Stay one moment," answered another. "Branch," he continued, "you have the reputation of a bad man. I shall not permit you to keep these ladies, if I can prevent it. Let me accompany them back to Springfield, and restore them to the arms of their friends!"
"Indeed!" replied Branch with bitterness. "You are very kind, and I have no doubt the ladies will thank you. But I do not understand exactly how you are going to prevent me from doing as I please. Pray be good enough to explain."
"I will! Men, you are enemies to the federal soldiers only, not innocent women. Seize that cowardly captain, and I will return with the ladies, and restore them to their friends. It will benefit all those of our friends who——"
A ball, fired from the pistol of Branch, went crashing through the brain of the speaker, and he rolled from his horse a corpse.
"You see how far his interference has benefited him," said Branch, pointing to the dead body. "Are there any more who wish to share his fate?"