me feel that one’s worth being cared for.”  She was far too excited and anxious to sleep.  Wrapping herself up, she watched at her window.  Soon the stars began to twinkle beneath the clouds in the west, showing that this last shower was a clearing one, and that the radiance of the moon might soon be undimmed.  The fires along the ridge which, as she believed, still defined the Union position, were burning low.  Suddenly flashes and reports of firearms in that direction startled her.

CHAPTER XXIV

A HOME A HOSPITAL

The sudden night alarm caused by firing on the ridge can be easily explained.  Wearied as were the Confederate general and his men, and severe as had been the repulse of their first attack, both were undaunted and, after rest and refreshment, eager to bring the battle to a more decisive issue, and it was determined to learn long before morning whether the Federal force was on the ridge or not.  During the last shower a reconnoitring party was sent out stealthily, a few of the rear-guard captured, from whom it was learned that the Union column had been on the march for hours.

Mrs. Whately was wakened and helped her disabled son to dress in haste.  Little did Miss Lou know about the term alibi, but she had the shrewdness to show herself and to appear much alarmed.  Opening her door, she gave a glimpse of herself in night attire with her long hair hanging over her shoulders, and cried, “Oh, oh, are we attacked?”

“If we are you may have sad reason to wish that you had obeyed me this morning,” replied her cousin sternly.  “You no more understand your folly and danger than a child.  Now I’m compelled to look after my prisoners first,” and he rushed away.

“Come in my room, Louise,” said her aunt.  “Whatever happens, it is best that we should be together.”  The girl was so agitated, fearing that in some way her adventures might be discovered, that she had no occasion to feign alarm.  Mrs. Whately sought only to soothe and quiet, also to extenuate her son’s words.  “I don’t suppose we truly realize yet, as Madison does, what war means,” she concluded.

Mr. Baron soon sent up word that there was no special occasion for further fears, and that the ladies might sleep, if they could, until morning.

But there was no more sleep for Mad Whately.  As soon as he reached the spot where the prisoners had been kept he asked sharply, “Where is that Yankee officer and Perkins?”

The man then on duty answered, “The sergeant I relieved said that you took ’im away, sir, and that the man named Perkins followed you.”

“There’s been treachery here,” cried Whately in a rage.  “Bring that sergeant here.”

The weary man was half dragged in his sleep to the officer and there thoroughly awakened by a volley of oaths.  He stolidly told his story, concluding, “I cud a sworn it was you, and the overseer followed less’n three minutes after you left.”