"On the honor of a soldier," said St. Jermyn, "I promise you its rest shall not be violated."
"You will attend me?"
"I will."
"Lead on," said the prisoner, stepping to the place assigned him in the ranks. "I seek no further delay."
"March down the river, half a mile below the camp," said Innis, who now came up, as the escort had begun its progress towards the place of execution. And the soldiers moved slowly, with the customary funeral observances, in a direction that led across the whole extent of the plain.
When this little detachment had disappeared on the further side of the field, a sudden commotion arose at head-quarters by the hasty arrival of a mounted patrol—
"We are followed!" cried the leading horseman, in great perturbation. "They will be here in an instant! We have been pressed by them for the last two miles."
"Of whom do you speak?" inquired Innis, eagerly.
"The enemy! the enemy!" vociferated several voices.
At the same moment a cloud of dust was seen rising above the trees, in the direction of the road leading up the Ennoree.