Miss Hayward did not raise her head, but reached forth her hand toward Wells, which, quickly kneeling by her side, he took, and pressed to his lips.
“Oh, heaven bless you!” he moaned. “You do not believe me capable of the dreadful crime with which I am charged?”
Miss Hayward tried to speak, but convulsive sobs choked her utterance.
“No, my ever kind and dear friend,” replied Alibamo, “she does not believe you guilty. Nor am I satisfied that Captain Hayward has been killed. I am under the impression that he was wounded and taken prisoner by some rebels, who were lurking near our camp.”
“You hope for the best, and so do I; but have you any grounds for the formation of such an opinion?” asked Wells.
“Yes, and to me the best of evidence. William Nettleton went in search of the captain. If he was killed, William would have found his body before this, and returned to us with the intelligence. His continued absence convinces me that the captain is still alive, and that his faithful friend Nettleton is at this moment following him. It is this hope which gives me fresh courage, and I believe a few days will see you free, and your name as untarnished as it should be. I wished to tell you this, and I also wished Miss Hayward to express to you personally, her confidence in your innocence; hence, I brought you here. You may leave us now, as my poor friend is too much agitated to converse.”
Wells was about to depart in silence, but Miss Hayward for the first time raised her face, and her tearful eyes met his own. He sprung forward, and kneeling before her, pressed his lips to her white forehead, and said:
“That look is worth to me years of happiness. But, you can read my heart now. When I am proved innocent, then I will speak the words which must not, till then, pass my lips. God bless you!”
He arose to depart, but was met by Captain Walker, who had just entered the tent.
Walker cast a rapid glance around him, and placing his finger upon his lips, enjoined silence upon all. Wells stood, with arms folded, sternly and suspiciously gazing upon him, while Alibamo asked: