My Lady of the North

of the road; but this may have resulted from the lowering of the rocky barriers on either side, making the arch of sky more clearly visible. The air perceptibly f

wrapped in the loose folds of an officer's cloak. She was sitting firm and upright in the sa

condition of the path we traversed, yet so complete was my confidence in Craig that I felt no hesitancy in blindly following the pace he set. Then a black shape loomed up

s it, S

the end of the road

he quiet ter be sure. The feller helped me out a bit by strikin' a match

only how rapidly the night hours were speeding an

ck it should turn out ter be a cavalry outpost,-an' I sorter reckon that's what it is,-why, our horses are in no shape fer a hard run. You uns

nd mechanically grasping the rein he held out to me, "go ahead. But be careful, and d

'll be no fuss, fer I kno

e is compelled to wait in helpless

warningly to my companion. "If there is any noise

s horse around to my side, where

draw together the flapping cape of her cloak, as though she felt

erhaps to throttle my own nervousnes

, as if thinking better

no obstacle in this cloa

aig's horse about the pommel o

e intricacies of a cavalry cloak. If I fasten these upp

ser about her throat; but whatever tantalizing curiosity I may have felt to view her f

ords were pleasant enough, yet there was something in both ton

ain, but merely the tall figure of the Sergeant, stealing silently out o

e shall hev ter move mighty quiet, fer ther main picket post a

g loosely over his arm, led the way slow

we drew nearer the White Briar road I sought in vain to pierce the dense gloom and note some sign of a

en us, casting an odd shadow against the face of the rock where it was lighted by the flickering red blaze. It was all over in a moment, a mere glimpse, but it formed one of those sudden pictures which paint themselves on the brain and can never after be effaced. I recall yet the long shade cast by the man's gun, the grotesque shape of his flappin

ly lined with shrubbery on either hand, and then Crai

sely. "When thet patrol makes their ro

ared; nor did I glance back, for I knew well that a dead picket was lying somewhe

ging against the iron stirrup, and only the breathing of the horses, and their heavy pounding on the earth, broke the night silence. Craig was riding directly in my front, sitting erect as if on parade, and the woman's horse kept up the pace without apparent effort. Surely we had a

t now seems to me that I was riding that black road with closed eyes, so busy were my thoughts elsewhere. Then, suddenly, my horse was jerked almost to a standstill, the hand upo

rced her to release her grasp. "We must ride, and rid

e wh

d there was a slight sti

gathering my scattered wits: "Why, t

to see my face in the darkness,-that her suspicions we

ldly. "That was a Fede

e matters worse. There was but one course open. She must be compelled to ride, by force if necessary. Why should I hesitate? She had no claim on my consideration, and I hardened my h

ke war on women, and your being in this situation is altogether an accident. However, be that as it may, we must, first of all, protect ourselves. I wou

I spoke, and when I concluded one hand

not sent by Frank to meet me?" The questions burst from

ervice, madam," I said calmly, "and to the best of my knowle

e through the darkness, as she might have gazed in speechless

hissed from her lips as if

especially fond of the term, "that is what they call

to ward off a second blow, she sent the lash swirling down upon the flank of her horse. With one bound the maddened animal wrenched the reins from out my hands, nearly dragging me from the saddle, and swe

the Sergeant, softly, "but dog-g

rly indifferent to all claims of her womanhood. She had unsexed herself, and deserved treatment accordingly. It was thus I felt as I clinched my teeth in pain; but when I saw

ds. Craig." I c

m its cramped, uncomfortable pos

charge. It was the fortune of war. If now we could honorably leave you here we would most gladly do so, for having you with us adds vastly to our own danger; but these mountains are simply overrun with wandering guerillas who would show you neith

n effort she succeeded in steadyi

go," s

You have saved me a most unpleasant duty. You may ride

r saddle rise and fall against my knee. Whatever of evil she may have thought of us, I felt that she was sorry enough n