“So are we all, Madam.  But I’ll tell you all I know.  I left you for several reasons.  I knew my main errand with you was done.  My post is out beyond, up the Missouri.  I was on my way there when I got orders to take you with me, as you know.  I concluded to drop off and send a telegraphic report to Washington, and to ask consent to go on out to my post.  I saw your note to Dunwody.  You had then chosen a new jailer.  I thought, since he was better known in this country than myself, your reputation would be safer in his hands than mine.  But as soon as I left, I began to think it over, and I resolved to follow after you, not as a jailer but as a friend.  I met a little party of northern men, going out to the Kansas country; and I knew Lieutenant Kammerer, here, at St. Louis.  We all thought alike.  That girl yonder pleaded so hard that we took her on with us, at Cairo.  She was bound to get away.  When we tied up for the night, above St. Genevieve, we were attacked by these Missourians here.  I had intended to leave the boat, for now I knew where you were.  Lily told me you were taken—­handled rudely—­like a slave—­that you—­Well then, I knew it was Dunwody.

“Of course, I was going to kill him.  In the night none of us knew who made up the party that fired on us.  There were half a dozen men killed, more than that many wounded, and we are prisoners here, as you see.  I suppose that’s about all.  But then, good God!  Madam, why break up our attempt to escape?  Aren’t you with us?  And how did you get hurt?”

She told him, simply, there had been accident.

“Are you of the revolutionists, Madam?” demanded the big German suddenly.

“Yes!” she wheeled upon him.  “I am from Europe.  I am for liberty.”

“Come, then,” said Kammerer, quietly reaching out and taking away the revolver from her hand.  “We’re friends.  How came you to be in this country, here?”

She smiled at him bitterly.  “Because of my zeal.  There were powers who wanted me out of Washington.  Ask Captain Carlisle as to that.  But this man I met later on the boat, as you know.  He—­brought me here—­as you have heard!”

“It iss outrage!” broke in Kammerer.  “It iss crime!”

“We’ll call him to account,” interrupted Carlisle.  “Why did you stop us?  We’d have killed him the next minute.  I’ll kill him yet.”

“I was afraid you would kill him,” she said simply.

“Well, why not?  What has he done to us,—­our men,—­to you?”

“I could not see it done.”

“You’ll see worse done.  We’ll do it yet.  You must not stand in our way.”  His hand closed over his own revolver butt, and he made a half motion forward.

“No!” she said, and stepped before him.

Carlisle would have put her aside.  “What do you mean?  They’ll be out here in a minute,—­we’ll have to fight if they catch us here.  Do you want to see us killed?  Quick!  Out of the way!” His voice, raucous in anger, rasped at her ears, low as it was pitched.