drawn in his hand, saw instantly that I was securely trapped, and
laughed in scorn.

"You are not making war on women now," he said with a cutting sneer.
"You will not find me so easy a victim."

The taunt stung me, but more the tone and manner of the speaker, and
the hot blood of youth cast all caution to the winds. With a single
spring, forgetful of my own wound, I was at his throat, dashed aside
his uplifted hand, and by the sheer audacity of my sudden, unexpected
onset, bore him back crashing to the floor. He struggled gamely, yet I
possessed the advantage of position, and would have punished him
severely, but for the dozen strong hands which instantly laid hold upon
me, and dragged me off, still fighting madly, although as helpless as a
child.

My opponent instantly leaped to his feet and started forward, drawing a
revolver as he came. His face was deathly white from passion, and there
was a look in his eyes which told me he would be restrained now by no
rule of war.

"You cowardly spy!" he cried, and my ears caught the sharp click as he
drew back the hammer. "Do you think I will let that blow go unavenged?"

"I assuredly trust not," I answered, gazing up at him from behind the
gun muzzles with which I was yet securely pinned to the floor. "But if
you are, as I am led to believe, a Federal officer, with some
pretensions to being also a gentleman, and not the outlaw your clothes
proclaim, you will at least permit me to stand upon my feet and face
you as a man. If I am a spy, as you seem inclined to claim, there are