ItistheWarBetweentheStatesandPeytonFarquharstandsattheendofaplankanoosearoundhisneck.Hehasbeenbetrayedbyastranger,ascoutfortheUnionArmy,andnowhefacesdeath.Hestandstoloseabeautifulyoungwife,familyandhome.Thesoldiersmakepreparationsforhisdeath,itisroutineforthem.Peyton'smindraces,hemustescape.Ifonlyhecanfreehishands.Theplankfallsandincomprehensiblytheropebreaks.Hemanagestoswimawayandevadethegunshotsfromthesoldiers.Heunbelievablyfindshimselfonshorerunningtowardshome.Afterwhatseemslikedaysofwearytravelhearrives.