BARKET.  Yes, sir. [Starting.

KERCHIVAL.  You say a prisoner has been captured?  Is it a spy?

BARKET.  Worse—­a petticoat.

KERCHIVAL.  A female prisoner! [Dropping into seat.

BARKET.  I towld the byes your honour wouldn’t thank us fer the catchin’ of her.  The worst of it is she’s a lady; and what’s worse still, it’s a purty one.

KERCHIVAL.  Tell Major Wilson, for me, to let her take the oath, and everything else she wants.  The Government of the United States will send her an apology and a new bonnet.

BARKET.  The young lady is to take the oath, is it?  She says she’ll see us damned first.

KERCHIVAL.  A lady, Barket?

BARKET.  Well! she didn’t use thim exact words.  That’s the way I understand her emphasis.  Ivery time she looks at me, I feel like getting under a boom-proof.  She was dashing through the woods on a gray horse, sur; and we had the divil’s own chase.  But we came up wid her, at last, down by the bend in Oak Run.  Just at that moment we saw the figure of a Confederate officer, disappearing among the trays on the ither side.

KERCHIVAL.  A—­h!

BARKET.  Two of us rayturned wid the girl; and the rist wint after the officer.  Nothing has been heard of thim yet.

KERCHIVAL.  Have you found any despatches on the prisoner?

BARKET.  Well!—­yer honour, I’m a bachelor, meself; and I’m not familar with the jayography of the sex.  We byes are in mortal terror for fear somebody might order us to go on an exploring expedition.

KERCHIVAL.  Tell them to send the prisoner here, Barket, and hurry to Buckton’s Ford yourself, at once.

BARKET.  As fast as me horse can carry me, sir, and it’s a good one. [Exit.

KERCHIVAL.  I’d rather deal with half the Confederate Army than with one woman, but I must question her.  They captured her down by the Bend in Oak Run. [Taking out map; looks at it.] I see.  She had just met, or was about to meet, a Confederate officer at that point.  It is evident that she was either taking him a despatch or was there to receive one.  Oak Run. [CORPORAL DUNN and Two SOLDIERS enter, with GERTRUDE as a prisoner.  They stop; KERCHIVAL sits studying map. GERTRUDE glances at him and marches down with head erect; stops, with her back to him.

CORPORAL DUNN.  The prisoner, Colonel West!

KERCHIVAL.  Ah!  Very well, Corporal; you can go. [Rising; he motions the GUARD to retire. CORPORAL DUNN gives the necessary orders and exit with GUARD.] Be seated, madam. [GERTRUDE draws up, folding her arms and planting her foot, spitefully. KERCHIVAL shrugs his shoulder.  Aside.] I wish they’d capture a tigress for me, or some other female animal that I know how to manage better than I do a woman. [Aloud.] I am very sorry, madam, but, of course, my duty as a