me, if nothing else, "if you shoot me, you will make
the worst mistake you ever made in your life; and I can prove it to you
in less than five minutes."

"No, yer can't, stranger. Don't waste yer time no such way. If yer want
ter say yer prayers, blaze away lively, 'cause three minutes aren't long
for a man to repent of all his sins."

"I have a pass from General M----, which permits me to go in safety
through these lines," persisted Somers. "The sergeant above just examined
it, and passed me through."

"Don't keer nothing about yer pass. I respects Jeff Davis just as much as
the best man in Mississip'. If yer had a pass from him, you mought as
well not have it as have it. Tom Myers was killed, and somebody's gwine
up for him."

"But I have important business on the other side."

"I knows that, stranger," replied the imperturbable Joe Bagbone. "It
don't make no difference."

"I am sent over by General M----. I belong to the Fourth Alabama."

"Shet up! Don't tell no lies, 'cause yer hain't got no time ter repent on
'em."

"Then, if I understand it, you mean to murder one of your own men in cold
blood."

"Nothin' of the sort; only gwine to shoot a Yank."

Somers looked into that hard, relentless eye; but there was not the
slightest indication of any change of purpose. He felt that he stood in
the presence of his executioner. All the errors of his past life crowded
upon him, and the grave seemed to yawn before him.

"Call the sergeant above, and he will satisfy you that I am all right,"
said he, making one more effort to move the villain from his wicked
purpose.

"Don't want the sergeant. Yer time's out, stranger."

"Let me call him, then."

"If yer do, I'll fire. Say yer prayers now, if yer mean ter; but I reckon
the prayers of a Yank ain't of much account," replied Joe with a sneer.

Somers stood within a few feet of a large tree. Joe had several times
raised his rifle to his shoulder; but, when he magnanimously offered his
victim the last moment of grace, he dropped it again; and our lieutenant,
taking advantage of this interval, darted behind the tree. Joe raised his
piece quicker than a flash; but he did not fire, for the reason that he
could not secure a perfect aim, and because he was sure of a better
opportunity. Our lieutenant, who had carefully preserved his revolver
during the various changes he had made in his dress, now took it from his
pocket, and prepared to contest the field like a man.