to the pier by the
rescue, acceded to her demand.

She recognized the gray-haired, handsome man who had come ashore at her
house. With a touch of indignation at her treatment, she briefly told
her story. But the general listened coldly and gravely with his eyes
fixed upon her face.

"You say you recognized in the leader of the party a man you had seen
before. Under what circumstances?"

Mrs. Bunker hesitated with burning cheeks. "He came to take Colonel
Marion from our place."

"When you were hiding him,--yes, we've heard the story. Now, Mrs.
Bunker, may I ask you what you, as a Southern sympathizer, expect to
gain by telling me this story?"

But here Mrs. Bunker burst out. "I am not a Southern sympathizer! Never!
Never! Never! I'm a Union woman,--wife of a Northern man. I helped that
man before I knew who he was. Any Christian, Northerner or Southerner,
would have done the same!"

Her sincerity and passion were equally unmistakable. The general rose,
opened the door of the adjoining room, said a few words to an orderly on
duty, and returned. "What you are asking of me, Mrs. Bunker, is almost
as extravagant and unprecedented as your story. You must understand, as
well as your husband, that if I land a force on your property it will be
to TAKE POSSESSION of it in the name of the Government, for Government
purposes."

"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Bunker eagerly; "I know that. I am willing; Zephas
will be willing."

"And," continued the general, fixing his eyes on her face, "you will
also understand that I may be compelled to detain you here as a hostage
for the safety of my men."

"Oh no! no! please!" said Mrs. Bunker, springing up with an imploring
feminine gesture; "I am expecting my husband. He may be coming back at
any moment; I must be there to see him FIRST! Please let me go back,
sir, with your men; put me anywhere ashore between them and those men
that are coming. Lock me up; keep me a prisoner in my own home; do
anything else if you think I am deceiving you; but don't keep me here to
miss him when he comes!"

"But you can see him later," said the general.

"But I must see him FIRST," said Mrs. Bunker desperately. "I must see
him first, for--for--HE KNOWS NOTHING OF THIS. He knows nothing of my
helping Colonel Marion; he knows nothing of--how foolish I have been,
and--he must not know it from others! There!" It was out at last. She
was sobbing now, but her pride was gone. She felt relieved, and did not
ev