"Captain Thorg! This must not be!" persisted the young officer.

"D--n, sir! Do you oppose me? Do you dare? Fall back, sir, I command
you! Scoundrels! close upon that wench and bind her!"

"Captain Thorg! This shall not be! Do you hear? Do you understand? I say
this violence shall not be perpetrated!" said the young officer, firmly.

"D--n, sir! Are you drunk, or mad? You are under arrest, sir! Corporal
Truman, take Ensign Shields' sword!"

The young man was quickly disarmed, and once more the captain
vociferated:

"Knock down and disarm that vixen! Obey your orders, villains! Or by
h--l, and all its fiends, I'll have you all court-martialed, and shot
before to-morrow noon!"

The soldiers closed around the unprotected girl.

"Lord, all merciful! forgive my sins," she prayed, and with a firm hand
pulled the trigger!

It did not respond to her touch--it failed! it failed!

Casting the traitorous weapon from her, she sunk upon her knees,
murmuring:

"Lost--lost--all is lost!" remained crushed, overwhelmed, awaiting her
fate!