“I must take him away. I am so sorry.”

“Take him away? Where?”

“To—to—God help me!—to another part of the fortress.”

“Indeed you can’t. My mamma is sick, and I am going to take him home.” She released herself and climbed upon her father’s back and put her arms around his neck. “Now Abby’s ready, papa—come along.”

“My poor child, I can’t. I must go with them.”

The child jumped to the ground and looked about her, wondering. Then she ran and stood before the officer and stamped her small foot indignantly and cried out:

“I told you my mamma is sick, and you might have listened. Let him go—you must!”

“Oh, poor child, would God I could, but indeed I must take him away. Attention, guard!.… fall in!.… shoulder arms!”.…

Abby was gone—like a flash of light. In a moment she was back, dragging the Lord Protector by the hand. At this formidable apparition all present straightened up, the officers saluting and the soldiers presenting arms.

“Stop them, sir! My mamma is sick and wants my papa, and I told them so, but they never even listened to me, and are taking him away.”

The Lord General stood as one dazed.

“Your papa, child? Is he your papa?”

“Why, of course—he was always it. Would I give the pretty red one to any other, when I love him so? No!”

A shocked expression rose in the Protector’s face, and he said:

“Ah, God help me! through Satan’s wiles I have done the cruelest thing that ever man did—and there is no help, no help! What can I do?”

Abby cried out, distressed and impatient: “Why, you can make them let him go,” and she began to sob. “Tell them to do it! You told me to command, and now the very first time I tell you to do a thing you don’t do it!”

A tender light dawned in the rugged old face, and the Lord General laid his hand upon the small tyrant’s head and said: “God be thanked for the saving accident of that unthinking promise; and you, inspired by Him, for reminding me of my forgotten pledge, O incomparable child! Officer, obey her command—she speaks by my mouth. The prisoner is pardoned; set him free!”