“Insanity!” echoed Mamie. “My brother insane?”
“He is a raving maniac! And but one thing can restore him!”
“Oh wretched, horrible news! What can I do to save my brother?”
“You are the only person who can save him. Nor is the task a hard one. Only a few miles from here is a Confederate camp. A chaplain is in attendance. He will perform the ceremony which will make you irrevocably and securely mine. Go with me. Become my wife, and to-morrow I will take you to your brother, and we will not only restore his shackled feet to liberty, but his shattered senses to reason. We alone can do it. Can you assume the responsibility of a refusal?”
Miss Hayward remained silent for a few moments, and then gazed alternately at the three villains. An unnatural fire lit up her eyes. At length she said:
“Captain Walker, I do not know but you are even now deceiving me. You may not know any thing about where my brother is.”
“Ask these soldiers,” replied Walker.
Miss Hayward turned her eyes upon them.
“The captain speaks right,” answered Jim. “He does know where your brother is. He is crazy and is chained in the—”
“Silence!” commanded Walker. “Do you believe, Miss Mamie?”