The St. Mary banner., 1911-12-09
CHAPTER III.
An Unwelcome Guest.

long ago learned to love; 1t warmed
the blood. this constant certainty of
imminent peril. this intense probable
ity that any moment might bring
flash of flame into our very faces.
Each step We took was now stern.
grim play with Fate. where the stakes
were life and death. | felt my pulses
throb as | rode steadily forward. fair
ly thrusting the darkness aside. my
teeth hard set. my left hand heavily
on revolver butt
How, In such situation. the nerves
tingle and the heart bounds to each
strange sight and sound! Haiti
what was that? Pooh' no more than
the deeper shadow OF sharply pro-
jecting rock, around which We pick
careful way. our horses crowdfng
against each other In the narrow
space And that? Nothing but the
faint moan of the night wind amid
the dead limbs 81 tree. All! mark
that sudden fash Of light! The hand
that closes iron-like upon the loosened
rein opens again. for it was merely q
star silently falling from out the
black depths of the sky. Then both
Of US halt at once. and peer anxiously
forward The figure standing direct
Iy in the center of our path. can it %
sentry at last? A cautious step for.
ward. low laugh from the sergeant.
and We circle the gaunt. blackened
stump. as silent ourselves as the
MI OH h,,f wi narCplv
ing. expectant hearts.
But bark. Surely that was no COM
mon sound, born of that drear lonei1-
ness! No cavalryman can mistake the
jingle Of accoutrements or the dull
thud of horses's hoofs. The road here
must have curved sharply. for they
were already so close upon us that,
almost simultaneously with the sound.
we could distinguish the deeper
shadow of small compact body OF
horsemen directly In our front. 10
left of us there rose. sheer and black.
the precipitous rock: to right we might
not even guess what yawning void
1t was either wit OF sword play now.
l know not how it may be with others
| in such emergencies. but with me It
always happens that the sense OF tear
departs with the presence OF actual
danger. Before the grewsome fancies
| of imagination | may quake and burn
like any maiden alone upon city
| street at night, until each separate
| nerve becomes a very demon OF men-
| tai agony; but when the real and
| known once fairly cOnfronts me. ana
there Is work to do. | grow instantly
cool to think, resolute to act. and ma
a rare Joy In It, 1t was SO now. and.
revolver In hand but hidden beneath
my holster flap. leaned over ana
touched Craig's arm.
Keep quiet" whispered sternly.
Let them challenge first. and no
firing except on my order"
Almost with the words there came
the sharp hail:
Halt! Who comes there?"
| drew the cape OF my riding jacket
| closer, so as better to muffe the
sound Of my voice.
| Friends. of course: who would you
expect to meet on this road?"
| Fortune seemed with me In the
| chance answer, for he who had hailed
exclaimed:
| "Oh! Is that you. Brennan?"
| There was no time now for hest
fancy; here was my cue. and | must
plunge ahead. accepting the chances.
| ventured 1t.
mo: Brennan couldn't come. ! am
here in his place"
Indeed! Who are you?"
Major Wilke."
There was moments painruh
pause, In which | could hear my
heart throb.
"Wilkie." repeated the voice. doubt.
fully There Is no officer OF that
name in the Forty-third."
We'll, there chances to be such IN
officer on the staff" retorted. permit
ting a trace of anger to appear in my
tone. land am the man
What the devil is the difference.
Hale. Just what his name is?" doomed
deeper voice back in the group. I'VE
are not getting up a directory OF the
Sixth corps. or course he's the man
Brennan sent. and that Is all we've
got to look after"
"Oh. all right. certainly. major" 70
turned the first speaker hastily. But
the night is SO cussed black | sup
posed we must be at least mile this
side OF where we were to meet How
ever. we have the lady here for you.
all right, and she Is anxious enough TO
get on"
fTO BE CON-INUEDt