e sergeant saluted again, and ordered the men to march.

Ted was lifted into his saddle, and, in the center of the detachment,
was marched away.

They rode thus for several miles, when, in the gathering dusk, Ted saw
ahead of him a small cabin.

In a few moments they were in front of it, and Ted and Hallie were
assisted to the ground and bade to enter.

In the center of the room, seated at a table, was Lieutenant Barrows,
who scowled at Ted, but hadn't the courage, apparently, to look at his
fiancee.

Hallie Croffut did not address him, but he felt the glance of scorn she
gave him, for he winced under it.

"For what am I arrested?" asked Ted coolly.

"You will discover when your trial comes," was the cold reply.

"And why have you dared to detain me?" asked Hallie.

"Your father's orders, Miss Croffut," he said almost inaudibly.

"I believe that you are lying. If you are, Heaven help you, for there is
not a decent man in all the army who will not hound you to disgrace. To
think that you would countenance this outrage against your colonel's
daughter is almost past belief. But now I know you for what you are, you
cur."

Barrows went white as a sheet as she said this, and his lip curled back
from his teeth, like those of an angry dog, as he half rose to his feet
with a gesture as if he would strike her. But he thought better of it,
and sank back.

"Brown, take them away," he said to the sergeant. "I will hold you
personally responsible for them."

The sergeant saluted, and, catching Ted by the elbow, marched him into
the next room.

Hallie Croffut started to follow him, when she was stayed by Barrows.

"Hallie, won't you come back with me?" he pleaded. "If you will, I will
release Strong and let the rest of it go."

"I wouldn't trust you out of my sight," said the girl. "Oh, how happy I
am that I have found you out in time. You are the most miserable
specimen of a man I ever heard of, and to think that you have called
yourself an officer and a gentleman. But this is the last for you. If
you were brave enough you ought to kill yourself to save the army from
the disgrace of having had you in it."

"Curse you!" he cried, in impotent rage. "If you were not a woman I
would knock you down."

"If you feel like it, don't let so small a matter that I am a girl and
your colonel's daughter interfere with your pleasure. Strike me!"

But Barrows only stared at her with a white face, and with a muttered
curse le