re an arrant coward:
you, the soldier that plans to capture women."

"You must compose yourself," I repeated.

"In a few minutes we shall be in the presence of General Forrest, and I
should like to see you as calm as possible. I don't know, but I think
you will be safe. It was our only chance." The nearer we drew to
headquarters the more my anxiety rose; yes, and my sympathy. "By the
living Lord," I cried, "you _shall_ be safe!"

"Noble gentleman! to entrap a woman and then declare she shall not be
entrapped! To gain whatever honor there may be in a woman's capture by
running ahead of his ruffians and capturing her himself! This is
Southern manliness--this is Southern chivalry! I am glad I know it for
what it really is. Do you know," she went on, "that I really
thought--that--I--I---- You are the first man I was ever deceived
in--I----"

"Come now," said I, not unmoved, for my feelings ran far ahead of hers
and I knew what she would say and how hurt she was; "come now, you must
be calm. Everything depends on that--everything."

Near General Forrest's headquarters I dismounted and walked by the side
of my horse. Then when Whistling Jim came up, and I would have helped
her from the saddle, "Don't touch me!" she exclaimed. She jumped from
the saddle to the ground and stood before me, and for the first time I
was ashamed and afraid. "This way," I said. Then to the guard at the
door, "Private Shannon, of Captain Forrest's company, to see the
General."

"He's right in there," said the guard with good-natured informality. I
rapped at the inner door, and heard the well-known voice of General
Forrest bidding me to enter.

I saluted, and he made some motion with his hand, but his eye wandered
over me and rested on my companion. Then, after a moment, they returned
to me. "What's the matter, Shannon?"

"I have brought to you here one who came to my rescue last night when I
had been captured by a scouting party. We had gone to see the young
fellow who, you will remember, was wounded in our last affair at the
river--you saw him in the cabin. He was carried away the next day by
his friends, but grew so ill that he could be taken no farther than the
house on the turnpike two miles from town."

"You didn't let 'em git you just dry so, did you?" he asked. And then I
gave him the details of the affair from beginning to end. "I thought
Herndon was mighty keen to go," he remarked with a laugh. "You say this
young fellow fixed it