SCENE 2. _Night._ Thunder storm rising. Flashes of lightning in the

distance. Heavy forest back. A river running through at rear, half hidden among the trees. A flat-roofed log hut in rear centre. A hole cut in the roof 2½ feet square, near front, and covered with short boards nailed at one end, and so weakened by hewing that a woman’s strength might be able to break them. A rope fastened overhead, where it would dangle over rear of hut, then guyed to hang over the hole, and drawn up out of sight. A door at R. end of hut, and bar behind it. (_Gen. Halcom disc. asleep on the floor of the hut, wounded in the head. A rebel sentry pacing outside the door._)

(_Enter Gen. Hood, Keele Brightly, D’Arneaux, and others, R._)

BRIGHTLY. General, I have called your attention to this matter at midnight, because the circumstances admit of no delay. In yonder cabin a Major General of the union army is confined as a prisoner of war. He owes allegiance, and is a native of the state of Tennessee. As a traitor to his native state, I would suggest that he be tried at once by a drum-head court-martial, and shot as he deserves.

HOOD. Why so urgent?

BRIGHTLY. The federals are rapidly forcing our positions. He might be recaptured. It would be a direful calamity if he should escape.

HOOD. He is but one man against us.

BRIGHTLY. A hundred men, sir. A devil, without restraint. It was his division that first broke our lines at Lookout Mountain. That robbed us of our victory at Chickamauga. His men are goaded to fight like devils, while he plunges into the thickest of the fight, hewing his way through the men as if they were dummies.

D’A. Such bravery merits our consideration.

HOOD. For a traitor?

D’A. Yes, sir, for a traitor. Though he wears the traitor’s garb, he is still one of the iron hearts of Tennessee.

BRIGHTLY. It is this deference to treason that disheartens the army. The south swarms with men who opposed secession. The coast clear, and they will fight against us. To keep these traitors where they belong, the patriotic men of the army demand an example. Refuse, and the foot of the northern tyrant will be on our necks within the next year. As the commander of the finest army in the south, I do not believe you will disappoint them.

HOOD. Let the prisoner be brought forth.

BRIGHTLY. Sentinel, the Commander-in-Chief would speak with the prisoner at once. (_Sentinel unlocks the door, and kicks Halcom to wake him. He springs to his feet._)

HALCOM. Well, what next? (_Sentinel points to the door, and Halcom passes out, &c._)

HOOD. You are a native of Tennessee?

HALCOM. Well?

HOOD. What do you mean by well?

HALCOM. Interpret to suit yourself.

HOOD. It has been represented that you are a traitor to your native state.

HALCOM. Undoubtedly.

HOOD. Do you deny it?

HALCOM. Who is my accuser?

BRIGHTLY. I!

HALCOM. An assassin and ravisher of defenceless women!

BRIGHTLY. Liar!

HALCOM. A coward, who covers his tracks with the knife and torch!

BRIGHTLY. A traitor accuses me!

HALCOM. A blatant ruffian, who fights only when no danger steps in his way. (_Brightly draws to attack him. Hood steps between._)

HOOD. Enough of this.

HALCOM. Leave him to his way.

HOOD. You were captured yesterday—

HALCOM. While insensible from wounds.

HOOD. While fighting against your native state.

HALCOM. To save her honor.

HOOD. By virtue of treason.

HALCOM. Who are you that speaks of treason?

HOOD. A soldier who never forgets his obligations to the soil that gave him heritage.

HALCOM. Whose sword is dishonored with blighted virtue and broken hearts, bartered for gold in the shambles of the auction yards.

HOOD. Keep your foul tongue civil, or I may forget myself.

HALCOM. It is honorable to be a traitor, when allegiance would strangle liberty—outrage virtue—rob the poor of the right to their miserable earnings, and trample on the most sacred affections of the heart.

HOOD. The defence of a hypocrite.

HALCOM. Only cowards defend dishonor. (_Brightly draws, and attempts to rush on him. D’A. dashes between._)

D’A. The man is unarmed.

BRIGHTLY. Which leaves him no right to convey an insult.

HOOD. Call a court-martial at once. The military law shall settle this. (_Brightly hurries out, R._) D’Arneaux, search his person for arms. (_D’A. makes a fruitless search. Enter Brightly with a drum and camp-stool, followed by a rebel officer._) Col. Gilday, you will act as judge advocate. (_Gilday prepares for business._) Capt. Brightly, take the stand. (_Sworn._) State to the court what you know of this man.

BRIGHTLY. The prisoner’s name is Francis Halcom. He is a native of Creelsboro’, Tennessee, on the Cumberland river. I have known the family since my childhood. With the exception of three years in Massachusetts for education, Creelsboro’ has always been his home. When Tennessee withdrew from the confederation, he immediately went north, raised troops, and has since led them on to pillage and murder in his native state. Yesterday, he was captured with arms in his hands, fighting as becomes a traitor. (_Steps aside._)

HOOD. D’Arneaux, take the stand. (_Sworn._) Tell the court what you know of this case.

D’A. I am acquainted with all the facts related by Captain Brightly. In addition, while the prisoner was absent in Massachusetts, his family was assassinated, and home burned, on account of political differences. When the war broke out, he was exiled for the same reason.

HOOD. You would defend this murderer?

D’A. Justice demands _all_ the facts.

HOOD. Which palliate nothing.

D’A. Had the assassin destroyed my family, and deprived me of my civil rights in the name of the state, _I too would have been a traitor!_

HOOD. Leave your sword at my headquarters, and consider yourself under arrest. Step aside.

D’A. I wash my hands of this murder about to be consummated.

HOOD. Go to your quarters, sir. I command here. (_D’A. leaves slowly. To Halcom._) You have heard the evidence against you—what have you to say?

HALCOM. Of what use is a defence in such a court as this?

HOOD. The court will hear an excuse, even.

HALCOM. The principal evidence is guilty of the murder of my family.

BRIGHTLY. I demand that he shall be made to prove that.

HALCOM. The closing of my life saves his.

BRIGHTLY. I demand an end of this cant.

HOOD. I will hold him responsible for every word he speaks.

HALCOM. Who speaks of responsibility? The history of today is yet to be written. When it is, a page will be given to the infamy of the leaders of this revolt. Two thousand years of the world’s best civilization tramples with disdain on the barbarisms for which you contend. Justice, Christianity and manhood alike repudiate the dishonor your sword sustains. What is treason? (_Pointing to B._) To defend my country against such reptiles as that!

BRIGHTLY. Will the court listen to this croaking liar longer?

HOOD. Leave him to his falsehoods. They but invite the bullet still more.

HALCOM. Most wise judge! How evenly are the scales of justice balanced in your court! How commendable are the tales that suit the judge! How villainously disgusting are the defensive presumptions of the prisoner, that might so basely impugn the intentions of the court!

HOOD. Who hatches crime, will defend a lie!

HALCOM. Who subverts justice, is a traitor to God!

BRIGHTLY. Let the bullet settle this at once.

HOOD. (_To the court._) Gentlemen of the court, you have heard the evidence. Is the prisoner guilty?

ALL. Aye, guilty!

HOOD. Captain Brightly, return the prisoner to the cabin. He will be allowed fifteen minutes to prepare. You will then call a squad of men, and see to it that he is shot to the death.

HALCOM. Gen. Hood, I request that I may die by the hand of a brave and honorable man.

HOOD. So I have decreed!

HALCOM. His hands are tainted with the murder of defenceless women.

BRIGHTLY. ’Tis false!

HALCOM. So is he a coward! Twice I have thrown my knife at his feet to defend himself against my empty hands, and he has refused!

BRIGHTLY. (_To Hood._) Do you believe the falsehoods of a traitor?

HALCOM. Then be it so now!

HOOD. (_To Brightly._) Well?

BRIGHTLY. I will not risk a life that may be of use to my country, in a duel with a man who has been condemned to death for treason.

HOOD. Well said, sir! Sentinel, remand the prisoner. (_Exit Hood, R. Sentinel points to the cabin. Halcom goes slowly, as if to enter. Halts at door and turns._)

HALCOM. Keele Brightly, the chances of war have favored you. I am the last of my family. My mother’s ashes are still unavenged. I have had faith in God. Justice may come at last from other hands than mine. (_Turns and enters the cabin, and falls on one knee. Sentinel locks the door. Brightly leaves R. As he disappears, Sentinel resumes his beat, and Zina shows around L. end of cabin, and taps lightly to attract Halcom’s attention. He hastens to listen._)

ZINA. (_Peering between the logs._) It is I, Zina, come to save you. There is a bar behind the door. Bar the door on the inside, and make no noise. Then return quickly.

HALCOM. God bless your brave little heart! (_Bars the door, and returns to listen._)

ZINA. This cabin is close to the river. Your friends are on the other side. The walls are too strong to be broken. I will climb to the roof, tear off some boards, throw a rope over a limb, and drop it through the opening. On this, ascend to the roof quickly. The river is too deep to ford. A log is lodged on the shore in rear of the cabin. With the rope, swing yourself astride this. Pull a rope fastened to the other shore, and it will soon land you with your friends on the other side. If you are fired upon from this side, throw yourself into the water and cling to the log.

HALCOM. But what chance of escape is there for yourself?

ZINA. Don’t fear for me.

HALCOM. I will not accept my life, even, at the slightest risk to your own.

ZINA. Do not hesitate. If you do, you are lost.

HALCOM. Tell me, on honor, is there any danger for yourself? (_Enter Brightly, with squad of men, for execution, R._)

ZINA. On my honor, I shall be safe. Watch for the rope. I join you at your own camp. (_Zina springs to rear of cabin, and ascends to roof, while Brightly is saying_)—

BRIGHTLY. Sentinel, bring out the prisoner. (_Meantime Zina is tugging to get off a board. Sentinel finds door fast._) Break down the door; there is an attempt to escape! (_Rebs rush at door, one with an axe. Zina gets off first board at word “escape.” Heavy firing, long roll, L._) Some to the roof! Smash the door! (_Zina gets off second board at word “door;” then fires at rebs climbing up sides, when they retreat. Brightly to rebs retreating, sword drawn. Gets off third board._) Back to the roof, cowards, or I will spit you like dogs. Get a log and crush it! (_Meantime, she fires again, drives them back, and gets off fourth board._)

SOLDIER. (_Entering L. in haste._) The Yanks are bridging the river.

BRIGHTLY. Fight them like hell! (_Fourth board drops; rebs crash in the door. Zina screams, flings rope into tree, and drops it through hole. Meantime shots inside cabin, and rebs tumble out door. Halcom climbs up a rope to roof. Rebs climb cabin to catch him on roof. As H. arrives on roof, Zina pushes him off rear into the water, and turns on the rebs._)

ZINA. (_Drawing knife._) Back, you cowards, or I kill you this time! (_Brightly dashes to R. rear. Curtain. Encore._)

(_Curtain rises on last tableau, except Zina has seized the rope. Suddenly she places her knife in her teeth, springs off rear, and swings into the water. Brightly dashes off building to L._)

SOLDIERS ON ROOF. (_Rising._) She is swimming the river! (_Brightly seizes a rifle from a soldier, dashes round L., and, during a flash of lightning, fires at her. D’Arneaux dashing in L., knocks the rifle aside, too late. Brightly springs to R._)

D’A. You have murdered that heroic girl! Take your knife, coward, for, by heaven, one of us shall follow!

BRIGHTLY. (_To soldiers._) Arrest that man for treason! (_Soldiers surround D’A. with a cordon of bayonets, when he drops his knife and hangs his head._)

BRIGHTLY. I have waited for this! A court-martial and the bullet shall end it! (_Curtain._)