nded. "You left me. I don't know
anything about what's going on. I'm all at sea."

"So are we all, Madam. But I'll tell you all I know. I left you
for several reasons. I knew my main errand with you was done. My
post is out beyond, up the Missouri. I was on my way there when I
got orders to take you with me, as you know. I concluded to drop
off and send a telegraphic report to Washington, and to ask consent
to go on out to my post. I saw your note to Dunwody. You had then
chosen a new jailer. I thought, since he was better known in this
country than myself, your reputation would be safer in his hands
than mine. But as soon as I left, I began to think it over, and I
resolved to follow after you, not as a jailer but as a friend. I
met a little party of northern men, going out to the Kansas
country; and I knew Lieutenant Kammerer, here, at St. Louis. We
all thought alike. That girl yonder pleaded so hard that we took
her on with us, at Cairo. She was bound to get away. When we tied
up for the night, above St. Genevieve, we were attacked by these
Missourians here. I had intended to leave the boat, for now I knew
where you were. Lily told me you were taken--handled rudely--like
a slave--that you--Well then, I knew it was Dunwody.

"Of course, I was going to kill him. In the night none of us knew
who made up the party that fired on us. There were half a dozen
men killed, more than that many wounded, and we are prisoners here,
as you see. I suppose that's about all. But then, good God!
Madam, why break up our attempt to escape? Aren't you with us?
And how did you get hurt?"

She told him, simply, there had been accident.

"Are you of the revolutionists, Madam?" demanded the big German
suddenly.

"Yes!" she wheeled upon him. "I am from Europe. I am for liberty."

"Come, then," said Kammerer, quietly reaching out and taking away
the revolver from her hand. "We're friends. How came you to be in
this country, here?"

She smiled at him bitterly. "Because of my zeal. There were
powers who wanted me out of Washington. Ask Captain Carlisle as to
that. But this man I met later on the boat, as you know.
He--brought me here--as you have heard!"

"It iss outrage!" broke in Kammerer. "It iss crime!"

"We'll call him to account," interrupted Carlisle. "Why did you
stop us? We'd have killed him the next minute. I'll kill him yet."

"I was afraid you _would_ kill him," she said simply.

"We