footsteps, accompanied by the hard
breathing of some one suffering from over-exertion.

"Boat coming ashore! Some one coming down to the landing-place! What
does this 'ere mean?" muttered the sentry. "Well, it's only one;" and
he peered carefully from his shelter, trying to make out the approaching
figure.

But it was too dark, and he waited a full minute before stepping out
boldly; and his rifle gave a loud _click, click_, as he cried:

"Halt! Who goes there?"

His answer was a sharp half-cry, half-gasp of astonishment, and the loud
breathing became quite a pant, like that of an excited dog.

"Here--yes--it--is--all right," came in rather a high-pitched voice, the
accents being those of one not fully accustomed to the English language.

"Well, what's the word?" cried Smithers, who, with his piece presented,
found himself close up now to a slight man of middle height, wearing a
sun-hat, dressed in knickerbockers, and apparently having a
fishing-creel slung from one shoulder, something like a tin case from
the other.

"The--the--word?" he answered.

"Yes. What's the word?"

"Oh yes; it is all right," faltered the new-comer, with a half-laugh.
"I was just going down to my boat. What a dark night!"

"Oh yes, it's dark enough," growled Smithers; "but what's the word?"

"The word? Oh yes. Good-night--good-night."

"Halt, I tell you!" cried the sentry in a deep tone. "That's not the
password."

"Oh no; but that does not matter, my good friend. I tell you I am going
down to the pier to my boat, which is waiting for me."

"Rum time to be going to meet a boat," growled Smithers; "and there's no
boat waiting there. Can't you hear? They are paddling away down-stream
as hard as eater they can."

The stranger uttered a sharp ejaculation of impatience.

"Oh, this is foolish--absurd!" he exclaimed; and his hands began to busy
themselves about his waist.

Private Smithers might have been the worst man in his company, but
somehow drill had made him a keen soldier and a good sentry.

"Hands up," he cried sharply, "or I fire!"

"Oh!" cried his visitor sharply, "don't be so foolish. Did you think I
was going to do something?"

"Yes, with a revolver, whoever you are. I nearly drew trigger, and you
not two yards away."

"Oh!" said the stranger, with a gasp. "It is foolish nonsense, and you
have frightened away my rowing-men. Don't you know me?"

"No."

"I am a stranger. I come out in the forest