, and
reached it safely with a heart that beat at twice its usual speed. It is
one thing to face danger in hot blood, but it is quite another and much
more unpleasant matter to slink through the darkness wondering whether a
foe one cannot see is following each movement with a rifle. Neither is
there any chance of hitting back in such cases; for it is my opinion, from
watching a stricken deer, that at short ranges the blow comes almost
simultaneously as the optic nerve records the flash and before the ear has
caught the explosion. All this I considered as I flattened myself against
the wall--for I was by no means braver than my fellows--and presently,
yard by yard, wormed myself along it until I passed a corner.

There a light shone out across the snow from a window, and I am perfectly
willing to admit that I crawled toward it on hands and knees, for angry
voices now reached me, and I knew that if I raised myself and the watcher
had changed his position he could see me. I reached the sill at last with
the rifle clenched in one mittened hand; and while I debated on my next
procedure I heard Colonel Carrington say slowly and fiercely:

"I will neither sign nor tell you!"

Then, reflecting that while one can always see into a lighted room those
inside it cannot see out, I determined to risk the scout's vigilance, and
raised my head cautiously, for it was plain that something quite unusual
went on inside. I looked into a kind of ante-room on one side of the
entrance, which the ruler of Carrington used as an office or study. He sat
in a basket chair with a frown on his face and disdain in his eyes, while
a burly man muffled in wrappings leaned on the table opposite him, holding
a rifle, the muzzle of which was turned toward the Colonel's breast. But
there was no sign of fear about him, and I had heard the settlers say that
nothing living could make Colonel Carrington flinch. An open check-book
and some note-paper lay beside an inkstand on the table, and another armed
ruffian stood near the stove. The door of the hall close by stood partly
open, and their voices were audible through it.

"I guess it's quite simple, but you make us tired," the latter said.
"You'll tell us where the chest is, and just fill in that check, with a
letter vouching for the bearer and explaining why you want so much in a
hurry. Then, as I said before, you'll ride south with us a day or two
while we arrange for cashing it, after which we'll let you g