Her tears were now falling fast, but she did not move, lest observant eyes should detect her emotion.

“Heaven bless your good, kind heart!” he continued, in a low, earnest tone.  “Whether I live or die, I wish you to know that your memory will ever be sacred to me, like that of my mother and one other.  Be assured that the life you have done so much to save is always at your command.  Whenever I can serve you or yours you can count on all that I am or can do.  Suwanee, I shall be a better man for having known you.  You don’t half appreciate yourself, and every succeeding day has only proved how true my first impressions were.”

She did not answer, and he felt that it would be dangerous to prolong the interview.  They entered the house together.  As they went up the stairs she pressed her handkerchief to her eyes, he wondering at her silence and emotion.  At the landing in the dusky hall-way he raised her hand to his lips.

There was not a trace of gallantry in the act, and she knew it.  It was only the crowning token of that recognition at which she had wondered from the first.  She realized that it was only the homage of a knightly man and the final expression of his gratitude; but it overwhelmed her, and she longed to escape with the terrible revelation which had come to her at last.  She could not repress a low sob, and, giving his hand a quick, strong pressure, she fled to her room.

“Can it be possible?” he thought.  “Oh! if I have wounded that heart, however unintentionally, I shall never forgive myself.”

“Lane,” whispered McAllister, when the former entered his room, “there are guards about the house.”

“I’m not surprised,” was the despondent reply.  “We are prisoners.”

“Does the family know it?”

He told him how Suwanee had detected the espionage of the rebel sergeant.

“Wouldn’t she help us?”

“I shall not ask her to.  I shall not compromise her with her people.”

“No, by thunder!  I’d rather spend my life in prison than harm her.  What shall we do?”

“We must put our light out soon, and take turns in watching for the slightest opportunity.  You lie down first.  I do not feel sleepy.”

After making some slight preparations the doctor slept, and it was well on towards morning before Lane’s crowding thoughts permitted him to seek repose.  He then wakened McAllister and said, “There has been a stealthy relief of guards thus far, and I’ve seen no chance whatever.”

The doctor was equally satisfied that any attempt to escape would be fruitless.