the spot," said a second despatch.

These instructions were purposely made public, in order to strike terror
among the Unionists. They were discussed by the soldiers, and reached
the ears of Carl.

"Hang them on the spot." That meant Stackridge and Penn, and he knew not
how many more. "And I," said Carl, "have agreed to show the vay to the
cave."

He was sweating fearfully over the dilemma in which he had placed
himself, when a sergeant and two men came to conduct him to
head-quarters.

"Now it begins," said Carl to himself, drawing a deep breath.

The irons remained on his wrists. In this plight he was brought into the
presence of the red-faced colonel.

"I hate a damned Dutchman!" said Lysander, who happened to be at
head-quarters.

He had had experience, and his prejudice was natural.

The colonel poised his cigar, and regarded Carl sternly. The boy's heart
throbbed anxiously, and he was afraid that he looked pale. Nevertheless,
he stood calmly erect on his sturdy young legs, and answered the
officer's frown with an expression of placid and innocent wonder.

"Your name is Carl," said the colonel.

"I sushpect that is true," replied Carl, on his guard against making
inadvertent admissions.

"Carl what?"

"Minnevich."

"Minny-fish? That's a scaly name. And they say you are a scaly fellow.
What have you got those bracelets on for?"

"That is vat I should pe wery much glad to find out," said Carl,
affectionately regarding his handcuffs.

"You are the fellow that enlisted to save the schoolmaster's neck, ain't
you?"

"I suppose that is true too."

"Suppose? Don't you know?"

"I thought I knowed, for you told me so; but as they vas hunting for him
aftervards to hang him, I vas conwinced I vas mishtaken."

This quiet reply, delivered in the lad's quaint style, with perfect
deliberation, and with a countenance shining with simplicity, was in
effect a keen thrust at the perfidy of the confederate officers. The
colonel's face became a shade redder, if possible, and he frowningly
exclaimed,--

"And so you deserted!"

"That," said Carl, "ish not quite so true."

"What! you deny the fact?"

"I peg your pardon, it ish not a fact. I vas took prisoner."

"And do you maintain that you did not go willingly?"

"I don't know just vat you mean by villingly. Ven vun of them fellows
puts his muzzle to my head and says, 'You come mit us, and make no noise
or I plow out your prains,' I vas prewailed upon t