Scene 1. Landscape or wood back. (Enter Barney, L. U. E., peering cautiously.)

Barney. It’s to the river he would! The blackguard! ’Pon my word, I’ll bat that thafe! Now didn’t that little girrul be doing that well! The illegant little baste! And it’s so decavin where the little darlin’ found the kay! It was killed she was intirely, whin she found out it was me she was chokin’. ’Pon my word, it is a thafe of a clown that wouldn’t be proud to be choked by a pretty little girrul like that. She jist cried as if she was killed. I told her she should choke me to death, and I would find no fault. (A sudden start as if a noise. Looking about.) Ah’r, so ye would do that. (Looking out L. U. E.) ’Pon my word, that cow! (Turning to look cautiously out R.) Let me see, (cogitating), it was meself that would surround the blackguard, when Hezekiah would bat the thafe when he would come round by them cook-houses. (Enter Brightly, L. U. E., stealthily. Dis. Barney; halts; draws a knife from his bootleg. Creeps stealthily towards Barney, as Hez. enters behind him; throws off hat, coat, gun, seizes a stone, and follows Brightly, with the evident intention of knocking his head off. Meantime Barney is saying)—

Barney. Let me say that agin, and I won’t be forgetin’ it. It is I, meself, that will surround thim cook-houses, while the blackguard will bat Hezekiah, and its to the river says he—(Arriving close up to Barney, Brightly prepares to stab him. As he is about to do so, Hez. flings the stone at his head with all his might. It grazes the top of Brightly’s head, knocks his hat off, strikes Barney in the back, and knocks him on his knees. Brightly dashes out R. U. E. Hez. kicks at him, misses, then pursues. Barney springs up and with shut eyes, strikes wildly towards his supposed assailant with both hands. He stops, looks about and sees nothing. Supposing his assailant to be concealed very near, he drops on one knee, spanks his hand on the floor.)

Barney. Come out wid yer! Come out, come out! I’ll bat your dam head off you! Come out! (Gets no response; gets gun and hat hastily, and hurrying out L. U. E., saying,) I will hunt two years for that thafe! (Enter Halcom, R. saying)

Halcom. A most marvelous escape! The poor child is excused in supposing she was saving her friend. (Enter Zina, L, trembling with fear. Drops on her knees sobbing.) Your offence is forgotten.

Zina. Oh, sir, I did not mean to do wrong. Please say you do not hate me for that.

Halcom. I do not. Your heroic impulsiveness for one you believed to be your friend, excites only my admiration, though so disastrous to you, as well as myself.

Zina. Oh, I try so hard to do right. (Sobbing.)

Halcom. Do not feel so bad; the past can never be helped.

Zina. Though he is so bad, I ought to love my master. Perhaps, when the war is over, I can do something to make him a better man. Oh, you will not think bad of me, I have so little to love. (Sobbing.)

Halcom. Zina, why do you try to love the man who holds your life in a bondage more hateful than death? Who has returned your devotion with nothing but misery, destitution, and the most servile submission. Who would sell your soul and body to dishonor, without one pang of regret. An assassin, thief, coward, ruffian; who blights virtue and crushes the honest aspirations and civil rights of all he touches.

Zina. Oh please, master, do not speak like that.

Halcom. You have no master but God.

Zina. Oh, I do not know what to do.

Halcom. There is some dark mystery covers your early life. You are not of the race whose brain and life have been crushed in the ignorance of slavery since this Republic began. Something tells me your life was born in wrong. The brain of the Anglo-Saxon—the white skin of another nation—the quick intelligence and sublime conceptions of the northern blood, betray the lie that binds you to a life like this.

Zina. Oh, I do not know what I am.

Halcom. But God says through your angel face, and the heavenly music in your soul, that your life was not born for this.

Zina. Oh, my life is so hopeless—

Halcom. Do you remember your mother?

Zina. I had no mother.

Halcom. No mother?

Zina. I grew up among the hands; I know nothing more.

Halcom. You had but one master?

Zina. Master Brightly is all I have ever known.

Halcom. They have told you nothing of your origin?

Zina. Nothing.

Halcom. You have no little keepsake in memory of the past!

Zina. Nothing.

Halcom. (Breaking down.) My God! There is a history here the earth must have. Give it to me, and I will be content. (Drops head.)

Zina. (Rising and looking at him earnestly.) Mistress D’Arneaux has told me of a good God in heaven who gave us the beautiful earth and flowers, who loves even the broken hearts of the poor and helpless, whose hand leads always to happiness and truth, whose justice is as the rocks and mountain cliffs of our old home, that are never moved. But this is not for the slave, for master beats his hands so cruelly when they have tried to do the best they could.

Halcom. It is not the fault of heaven that men are bad. As justice lives for all, so is there a counterpoise of wrong.

Zina. Oh, my master has told me nothing of what you say.

Halcom. Away back in the almost hidden past, there lived a man whose mission was to substitute love for brutality. He laid down his life for this. The same wrong that renders your life hopeless, crushed his. Almost 1900 years have passed since then, but the silent hand of the dead still lives in the better civilization of the north.

Zina. Oh, I have thought so much, and looked in hope for better days to come, but it has been so hopeless. (Halcom looks earnestly at her.)

Halcom. How would you like to come with me?

Zina. Oh, you have been so good to me—but—but Master D’Arneaux will buy me when the war is done. Oh, his hands are so happy—

Halcom. You are right, my little one. Master D’Arneaux is a better man than I.

Zina. Oh no, I did not mean that. But—but I know Master D’Arneaux so well. If it wasn’t that I know Master D’Arneaux so well, I—I would go with you.

Halcom. Right, right.

Zina. Did—did you have a mother?

Halcom. A long time ago. (Turns away.)

Zina. Master D’Arneaux had a mother, and he is so good to his help. Do you feel bad because I said that?

Halcom. Why, my little one?

Zina. You always look at me so strangely. Oh, I do not know what to say to you then.

H. Your face brings back to me so many memories of the past.

Zina. I am so sorry I made you feel so bad. Does your mother live in the north?

Halcom. She is dead!

Zina. Oh I am so sorry she is dead. She must have been such a good mother.

Halcom. She was indeed good, and beautiful as yourself. (Advances, kisses her forehead and turns away. Enter Sherman, L. U. E.)

Sherman. What, that little rebel owl again?

Halcom. Prattling of the incongruous things of life, like the child she is.

Sherman. The jade! I suppose she would assist that scoundrel she calls her master, if she could.

Halcom. She asks me to intercede with you, that she may go back to her old home again.

Sherman. And concoct some scheme of assassination with that brute who has escaped.

Zina. Please let me go to my home. (Drops on knee.)

Sherman. (Sharply.) You will remain.

Halcom. She is an innocent, artless child, General.

Sherman. Artless? She is a devil! During her master’s escape, she held the guard with the ferocity of a tiger, while he took his leisure to leave. Had she been a man, I would have had her shot at once. Orderly, here! (Enter Orderly, L. U. E.) Take this girl to the care of the guard again. Say to the officer in charge, it shall go bad if she is allowed to stray again. (Orderly seizes her arm roughly and leads her away, L. U. E.)

Halcom. (To Orderly.) Tenderly my boy.

Sherman. In war, women are devils, and you can’t strike back. I can confine all but their tongues. They shall rant the empty air with them.

Hal. Certainly, General, her childish years must be harmless.

Sherman. Do you shut your eyes to the fact that she is only here as a spy?

Halcom. Why, she is a mere child, General.

Sherman. A very old child, with fifty years of a woman’s cunning in her head.

Halcom. Certainly you jest.

Sherman. Female spies may remain in this camp without harm. If they leave it, I am to blame for it.

Halcom. Why General, you see an enemy everywhere.

Sherman. Young man, you seem to have an unusual interest in that girl. Remember, this is war. No time for love and moonshine.

Halcom. Why, she is scarcely fifteen.

Sherman. Old enough to absorb this love looney that distresses incipient womanhood so much. (Rapid firing at R. Both bring their field glasses to bear, and look out.)

Halcom. A sortie in front of my division. (Springs out R. Enter man with field telegraph, L.)

Sherman. Order five batteries from the Chief of Artillery to the ridge on the right of the attack. Open at once. Tell Schofield to shift his reserves to Howard’s support at once. (Firing gradually increases.) Here comes the Artillery! Halcom can never stop that charge! Tell McClernard to double-quick. They will be overpowered. My God! The whole rebel army is upon him! This is a surprise! What have the advance guard been doing? A splendid charge, McClernard, on my honor. (Enter Orderly excitedly, R. U. E.)

Orderly. Gen. Halcom is wounded and a prisoner!

Sherman. Orderly, my horse! (To Operator.) Order a double-quick advance all along the line. Order Kilpatrick to attack their right with all the cavalry. Tell Schofield the double stars to the first Brigadier inside the enemy’s works.

Orderly. (Entering L. U. E.) Your horse, sir.

Operator. Orders all right, sir.

Sherman. (To Operator.) Now move to the hill on the right of the attack. (Sherman springs into the saddle and gallops off, R. Ord. and Operator leave R. U. E. Firing recedes. Enter Barney, R. U. E., with three old muskets strapped to his back, driving three rebel prisoners ahead of him.)

Barney. Hip now, or I blow thim heads off ye. (Arriving in centre.) Stop now. (All halt.) Look at me. (All turn their heads only.) Look round with the whole of ye or I break thim necks off ye. (All front.) You don’t know much, do ye? I guess not. You don’t know any educashun, do ye? Hey? I have heard about that. You don’t know’ any readin’ or writin’, do you? Hey? I have heard about that. When Abe Linken tells you, go home and behave yourself, you would fight about that, would ye? You don’t know Abe Linken, I guess. He would bat the divil out of ye. He told me to shoot any blackguards lookin’ as bad as ye. Do you mind that? Have you got any bottles in your pockets? You h’aint? (Prepares to shoot, when all rush up, and each gives him a bottle.) Don’t you stop like that again, or I bat you. You don’t know Bin Butler? I guess you don’t. You better give four dollars you don’t. He would break your damn heads off ye. (Pointing L.) Walk that way now, or I blows the hell’s blazes out of ye. (Exit all, L., to Yankee Doodle. Enter Sally, R. U. E., a big horse pistol in one hand, and a gigantic bowie knife in the other, her male attire covered with a water-proof cloak.)

Sally. (Feeling of her arms, &c.) I wonder if I’m broke anywhere. Jints all workin’! Now hain’t I got a lounder for the Pordunk Cultivater! Never got so excited in my life. Hez. is just inflated. He’s struttin’ about the picket line askin’ ’em to send along somethin’ bigger. (A shot, R. Sally dashes to R. wings and listens.) Gorry! I thought that was another fight. (Sings.)

Now that Zina don’t know which side she is on. But she’s a sharp sprout though. Ye never know what she’s doin’ till she does it. Tried ter interview her about her feller. She was the most surprised thing I ever looked at. She don’t know nothin’ about courtin’. I wonder where her fun comes in? She is the bluest thing out of a grave yard. By gorry, I ain’t goin’ ter die till the time comes. I went over ter see her yesterday, and she was down on the floor cryin’, and she didn’t know what for. The old General thinks she’s got the devil in her. If she has, he’s an awful mild one. Sometimes you could knock her down with a feather. The old General don’t like women. He’s the first man er that kind I ever see. Poor little Zina, she’s always in trouble. When she heard General Halcom was took, she was jist crazy. In less’n two hours she was missing, and the guard don’t know how. I’ll bet ye tew dollars that girl is off for a fuss, or else things is deceivin’. If I was going ter give any advice, I should say, that anything that weighs less than a ton, had better get off the track. (Firing away to R.) By gorry, there’s another fight. (Dashes off, R. U. E.)

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.)