nces?"

The general spoke sharply now. Such determination and contumacy had at
last got the better of his patience and forbearance. He had tried to
save Sempland, but the young officer would give him no assistance.
Well, on his own head it would be.

"You realize what is before you, sir?"

"Yes, sir."

"A court-martial. Possibly--nay, certainly, death. For in the face of
your refusal to explain I can do nothing more for you."

Sempland bowed to the inevitable.

"You have said," he began, "that you did not believe I was a coward,
nor a traitor. If you will not allow the stigma of either of these
charges to rest upon me, I will bear with equanimity whatever
punishment the court-martial may award."

"Even to loss of life?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well," said the general, shrugging his shoulders, a trick of his
French ancestry. "I have done my best, Mr. Sempland, for you. As to my
personal beliefs, I can and will express them, but I cannot tell
whether the court-martial will receive them or not. Will nothing move
you?"

"Nothing, sir."

The general struck a bell on the desk before him.

"Orderly," he said, as a soldier presented himself, "my compliments to
the assistant adjutant-general. Ask him to come here. Ah, General
Wylie," he said as that functionary presented himself, "will you make
out an order assembling a court-martial to try Lieutenant Rhett
Sempland, here, for disobedience of orders and neglect of duty in the
presence of the enemy, and--well, that will be enough, I think," he
continued after a pause which was fraught with agony to Sempland at
least, lest the general should mention cowardice or treason again.
"Meanwhile see that Mr. Sempland is carefully guarded here in the
headquarters building."

"Very good, sir," said the officer, saluting. "This way, Mr. Sempland."

CHAPTER XI

THE CONFESSION THAT CLEARED

As the two men left the room the orderly entered it once more and
announced to the general that a lady was below who asked the privilege
of an interview with him.

"Lady? What lady?" demanded Beauregard, impatiently.

He was in no mood for feminine society after the difficult interview in
which he had just participated.

"I think it is Miss Glen, sir. She says she must see you and--"

"Ah!" interrupted the general, hastily, as he recollected the scene on
the wharf the night before, when Fanny Glen had fainted at the news
that the boat was gone and that Lacy had gone with it.