s, martinet as he was,
felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met
her, steady gaze, her alluring smile; he could not tell what this
prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a
duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to
meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard. For almost
the first time since they had met they were upon the point of
awkwardness. Light speech failed them for the moment, the gravity
of the situation began to come home to both of them. Indeed, who
were they? What were they to the public under whose notice they
might fall--indeed, must fall? There was no concealing face and
figure of a woman such as this; no, not in any corner of the world,
though she were shrouded in oriental veil. Nay, were she indeed
tied in a sack and flung into the sea, yet would she arise to make
trouble for mankind until her allotted task should be complete!
How could they two answer any question which might arise regarding
their errand, or regarding their relations as they stood, here at
the gateway of the remoter country into which they were departing?
How far must their journey together continue? What would be said
regarding them?

Carlisle found it impossible to answer such questions. She herself
only made the situation the more difficult with her high-headed
defiance of him.

Hesitating, the young officer turned his gaze over the wide dock,
now covered with hurrying figures, with massed traffic, with the
confusion preceding the departure of a river boat. Teams
thundered, carts trundled here and there, shoutings of many minor
captains arose. Those who were to take passage on the packet
hurried forward, to the gangway, so occupied in their own affairs
as to have small time to examine their neighbors. The very
confusion for the time seemed to afford safety. Carlisle was upon
the point of drawing a long breath of relief; but even as he turned
to ask his companion to accompany him aboard the boat he caught
sight of an approaching figure which he seemed to recognize. He
would have turned away, but the keen-witted woman at his side
followed his gaze and paused. There approached these two now, hat
in hand, a gentleman who evidently intended to claim acquaintance.

This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed
striking. In complexion fair, and with blue or gray eyes, he was
tall as any Viking, as broad in the shoulder. He