THE SACRIFICE
die. That much is certain. Mine is the only way."
There was another silence, and then Jon went on:
"You will tell them that I am Mallory. That I shall go with my men to the Union front. Then I shall—"
It was a long time before anything more was said.
"I have the courage now for the word! Desert! When we are before Stuart I will desert to him and enlist as Mallory. Tell them so."
He hurried it all out terribly as if he was afraid he'd never get it out otherwise.
"That is what you must tell them with the code to-night. That I, a Union captain, am leading my men toward the Confederate front so that I can step over to them. That I am—that—kind—of a—Union man! God Almighty! God, God Almighty!"
"Oh, my poor Jon—my poor old Jonthy!" sobbed Evelyn again.
285
