“And now I demand justice!”
“Which you shall have,” replied the General. “But first answer me; how did this handkerchief, which bears your name, and which you confess to having used in the stream, become bloody?”
That was another point of interest, and Nettleton paused to listen attentively.
“I had a bleeding at the nose, and the reason I threw the dirty thing away, was, I did not think it worth washing!”
“Then some person must have recovered it, washed it very carefully, and thrown it into the stream again, for there is NO blood upon it!”
Walker attempted a reply, but his utterance failed. The General enjoined silence, and then stepping forward he said, in a voice sufficiently loud to be heard by all present:
“Captain Walker, I must sum up, before you, the evidence of crimes you have committed, which have no parallel in the history of the army, or of crimes which have ever been, or attempted to be committed in any civilized country. I would give you the benefit of a court-martial, were there any doubt of your guilt, and even now may order a trial, but it will only be a formal one. You had better confess your guilt, here, before all—ask their pardon—make reparation to those you have most injured, and die repentant!”
“I have nothing to confess!” responded Walker, bitterly.
“Have you no fear of the revelations of these two soldiers?” asked the General, pointing to the chained ruffians.
“I have no fear! No doubt they have been bribed to conspire with you! But, vent your spite! Go on!”