“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?  Get your arms, men!  Cover them, quick!”

“Wait!” said Carlisle quietly.  “We’re armed, and we’ve got you covered.”  His weapon and that of Kammerer shone gray in the half light.  Dunwody threw himself against the doorpost with a growl of anger.

“You’ve been plotting against us!” he said to Josephine grimly.  “Well!”

“You are unjust, as usual, Sir,” said Carlisle hotly.  “On the contrary, she just kept us from killing you—­which by all the rights of God and man we ought to have done,—­and will do, some day.”

“What do you mean?” demanded Dunwody dully.  “You—­she saved—­”

“It iss the truth,” assented Kammerer, in his turn.  “It wass the lady who hass saved you.  She hass spoken for peace and not for bloodshed.  You owe to her your life.”

“My life!” he said, turning toward her.  “You—­”

“I’ve assumed command here,” interrupted Josephine calmly.  “I’ve paroled these gentlemen.”