t through everything she saw Archdale's vigorous form and heard
Edmonson's passionate voice and his words. With such a marksman, and at
such range, how could a shot stray!

But she dreaded still more the time when the expedition should return.
To-night she bitterly regretted that the General had not been told her
errand, and saw that when Mr. Royal urged it, it had been the wish to
save her that had made Stephen Archdale ask him not to do it.

Three hours after the start she heard that the expedition had failed.
All that was left was returning, the wounded would soon be brought in.
Her little strength deserted her for the moment She sank down helpless
in the shadow. Then she rose and went forward.

As the boat lay rocking on the waves waiting for the others, Archdale
took his bearings. Leaning towards the stern, he said to one of his
men:--

"Greene will you change places with me?" If the man had thought the
request more than a whim, he would have supposed it to be because the
captain considered his new choice a more dangerous post. Archdale
seating himself again glanced toward the bow. He was now on the same
side with Edmonson and the fourth man from him. It would be somewhat
difficult to have the latter's gun go off by accident and be sure of its
mark, and Greene was safe so far as exemption from an enemy at hand was
concerned. Archdale would have preferred Edmonson's left hand but when
it came to disembarking, his enemy should precede him.

"Better cushions?" asked Edmonson with a sneering laugh under which he
tried to hide his anger. "Can't see any other motive for your running
the risk of capsizing us."

"It is very presumptuous to do anything for which Captain Edmonson
cannot see the motive," returned Archdale haughtily.

"By Heavens!" cried Edmonson in another moment "You're bound to die in
character if it come to a question of dying and of course it will with
some of us."

Stephen made no answer. He felt more strongly than ever that he needed
good eyes and firm nerves. To be killed like a rat in a trap! His blood
ran too warm in his veins to submit tamely to this. When the struggle
should come yonder it mattered little whether it was by Edmonson's shot
or another's, for if he fell in the heat of the conflict it would always
be said that he died a soldier's death. And if he lived to come back
Edmonson, should take boat first. He turned himself slightly toward his
foe, and sat silent and observant.

Had