He could not sacrifice his race for his dearest friend.

Viola had taught him that lesson.

Bernard's eyes swam with tears as he said to Belton in a hoarse whisper: "Belton Piedmont, your last hour has come.

Have you anything to say ?" "Tell posterity," said Belton, in firm ringing tones that startled the birds into silence, "that I loved the race to which I belonged and the flag that floated over me; and, being unable to see these objects of my love engage in mortal combat, I went to my God, and now look down upon both from my home in the skies to bless them with my spirit." Bernard gave the word of command to fire, and Belton fell forward, a corpse.

On the knoll where he fell he was buried, shrouded in an American flag..