“Dear Olympia, that is one reason of my coming.  In my horror at Rosedale, I, too, believed that John had been in a plot to entrap Wesley; but I—­I—­know better now, and I have come to tell you that it is no less my duty than my right to see that your brother’s memory is made as spotless as his life.”

“I knew it; I knew you would, do it; I told Jack so in Richmond, almost the last words I said before he set out on this miserable adventure.  I told him you were not the girl I took you for if you could believe him to be such a dastard, when you had time to get over the shock of poor Wesley’s death.  You never heard the whole story of that dreadful night.  I must tell it to you—­as he would if he were here, and I know you would believe him.”  The two girls sat down, hand in hand, and Olympia told the tale as it has been set down in these pages.

Kate was sobbing when the story ended.  She flung her arms about Olympia’s neck, and for a time the two sat silent, tearful.

“Oh, why didn’t he tell me this at the time?  It was not Jack’s bullet that entered poor Wesley’s body.  Jack was at his right, at the side of the bed.  Wesley’s wound was on the left side, and the shot must have come from Jones’s pistol!”

“I remember that; but Jack’s remorse put all thought of everything else out of my head.  I recall, perfectly, that the wound was in Wesley’s left side.  Oh, if I could only get that word to Jack!  I If—­”

“I’ll get it to him if he’s alive.  I, or mine, have been his undoing!  I shall make amends.  Ah, Olympia, I—­I am ashamed to feel so full of joy—­forgive me.”

“It isn’t your fault, dear, that you didn’t know Jack as we do,” Olympia said, tenderly.

“What are your plans?” Kate asked, presently.

“Mother insists upon going to the peninsula and examining the ground, questioning all who took part in the pursuit, and seeing with her own eyes every wounded man in the neighborhood.  I don’t know whether we can get passes, but we shall set out at once and do our best.”

“O Olympia.  I must—­I must go with you!  I shall die if I remain here doing nothing—­helpless!  Let me go.  I can aid you much.  I can surely get all the passports required.  I can do many things that you couldn’t do, for my father—­”

She stopped and colored.  Her father!  What was she rashly promising for him?  Dead, he was bent on Jack’s dishonor; living, he would never rest until Jack’s life was condemned.

“Ah, yes—­that’s true.  Your father is potent at headquarters.  I can answer for mamma.  We shall be delighted and comforted to have you.  I shall need you as much as mamma needs me.  We are only waiting for Mr. Brodie’s report.  I don’t expect much from his researches.  It is only a woman’s heart that upholds one in such trials as this search means.”