ll, why not? What has he done to us,--our men,--to you?"

"I could not see it done."

"You'll see worse done. We'll do it yet. You must not stand in
our way." His hand closed over his own revolver butt, and he made
a half motion forward.

"No!" she said, and stepped before him.

Carlisle would have put her aside. "What do you mean? They'll be
out here in a minute,--we'll have to fight if they catch us here.
Do you want to see us killed? Quick! Out of the way!" His voice,
raucous in anger, rasped at her ears, low as it was pitched.

"No," she still replied. "Let me do the thinking. Keep quiet!
I'll get you out. There's been blood enough shed now."

"You are magnificent, Madam!" said Carlisle. "But you are
visionary. Get out of our way. I claim him. Leave him to me."

"No, I claim him myself. Leave him to me!"

"In God's name, what next!" exclaimed the young Northerner
bitterly. "Are we all mad? Haven't you had trouble enough already
with this man? You don't make yourself clear. What do you want of
him?"

"I'm entirely clear about it myself. I can't get away from here
now, but I'm safe here now. For all of you to stay would mean
trouble, certainly. If those men knew you were planning escape
there would be more men killed. But you don't belong here. Very
well. I'm obliged to stay for a time. So, I'm just going to take
the position of commander. I'm just going to parole you two.
You're free to go if you like!"

Carlisle turned toward the big German, Kammerer, and broke into a
laugh. "Did you ever see anything like this?" he demanded. But
the assent of the other shone in his eyes.

"The lady hass right," he said. "What she said iss wise, if it can
be done."

"But, Madam, what will become of _you_?" said Carlisle at last.
Her answer was instant. She turned back to the door.

"Judge Clayton!" she called out, loud and clear. "Mr. Yates! All
of you, come here!"

The inner doors opened, and they ran out at her call. Some of them
had been asleep, leaning back in their chairs against the wall.
The confusion of their approach now aroused all the house. There
appeared also the tall form of Dunwody himself, leaning on a rifle
barrel for a crutch. All these paused in the hall or on the
gallery, close to the great door. Dunwody's frown was unmistakable
enough, when he saw the three grouped outside, the two prisoners
armed.

"There's been plotting here!" he cried. "What's up?