t any moment might bring a flash of flame into our very faces. Each step we took was now a stern, grim play with Fate, where the stakes were life and

thing but the faint moan of the night wind amid the dead limbs of a tree. Ah! mark that sudden flash of light! The hand that closes iron-like upon the loosened rein opens again, for it was merely a star silently falling from out the black depths of the sky. Then both of us halt at once, and

st have curved sharply, for they were already so close upon us that, almost simultaneously with the sound, we could distinguish the deeper shadow of a small, compact body of horse

may quake and burn like any maiden alone upon a city street at night, until each separate nerve becomes a very demon of mental agony; but when the real and known once fairly confronts me, and there is

y. "Let them challenge first, an

words there came

ho comes

jacket closer, so as better t

who would you expect

the chance answer, for h

hat you,

ere was my cue, and I must plunge ahea

dn't come. I am h

! Who a

r Wil

nful pause, in which I c

ubtfully. "There is no officer o

the staff," I retorted, permitting a trace of

r voice back in the group. "We are not getting up a directory of the Sixth Corp

so cussed black I supposed we must be at least a mile this side of where we were to meet

t before I had sufficiently regained control over my own feelings to venture upon a suitable reply, the entir

asked, and the gruffness of his

the game, lady or no lady. I was extremely sorry for her, but the cause outweighed her

d at the group h

on th

ay. "Sergeant, just ride in there and lead, out her horse. We will ha

sented the ot

soft Southern drawl would mean instant betrayal. And how coolly he went at it; with a sharp touch of the spur, causing his jaded horse to exhibit such sudden restlessness as to keep the escort wel

. Remember me to Brennan. Deuced queer, though, why

ent out in the other direction wit

found the effort useless, as little more than a shadow was visible. Yet it was impressed upon me that she sat straight and firm in the saddle, so I concluded she must be young. Rapidly I reviewed our predicament, and sought for some avenue of escap

ith caution into her confidence, "I fear y

ightly at sou

Besides, my ride has not been a long one, as w

leasantly modul

t I had made a grave mistake. "But really I ha

you see we had covered scarcely more than three miles when we m

f hesitancy, but it w

I have never yet been in the camp, but I should ju

ise, "Captain Hale certainly tol

ly, for it was my turn to feel startl

heard some of the younger officers say; but it seems the Rebel pickets are posted so c

so unexpected and startling

road do the

t ignorance, as well as

ou are lost. Fortunately, sir, out of my vast knowledge of this mysterious region, I am able

ok across her horse's neck to wh

word, sir?" he

; do you make anythi

t, and where we are. The cut-off to the White Briar I spoke to you a

te it. Be cautious; there may be a picket stationed

an's horse, being comparatively fresh and restless, danced a little in an effort to follow, but I restrained him with

m so anxious to di

ied somewhat shortly. "Besides, we are much farther to the east than

exclaimed in a voice of indignant wonder; but as

ght's work, and constantly listening in dread for some sounds of struggle down the roadway. But all remained silent until I could dimly distinguish the returning hoof-beats

ket the

to ride a few rods in advance of us, and will set a goo

of his hand as it

here is the tur

orse and forged ahead. In another moment he had totally disappeared, and as I urged our reluctant mounts to m

l made. Fortunately the horses followed the curves without mishap, save an occasional awkward stumble amid loose stones, while the high

w strained to intensity as I spurred on my horse and held tightly to the bridle of the other, a