Quarter, where the outlines of him who held me, and my own body, were
marked against the lighter sky.

Then I heard a muffled exclamation from Pierre, whereupon my captor
suddenly wheeled me about until we were facing the two lads and their
prisoner, when he whispered softly, yet sharply:

"Continue on as you were going, and as you value your lives make no
outcry or delay!"

Having thus spoken, one can well fancy that I was nigh to being
paralyzed with mingled astonishment and bewilderment, because the tone
was friendly and the words indicated that he would aid us. He released
his grasp on my throat, and involuntarily I stretched out my hands, when
they came in contact with my captor, and by the sense of touch I
understood that he wore a uniform.

"You are a British soldier!" I stammered, terror once more taking firm
hold upon me.

"Ay, that I am for the time being; but now move on if you would continue
that which you have begun, else are you like to fall into the hands of
other soldiers in this encampment who will have less care for your
safety."

I wish it might be possible for me to set down in words, so that he who
reads could understand, the frame of mind into which I was plunged by
this remark. When he first seized me I had no doubt but that I had begun
my journey on the road which leads to the gallows, and on learning that
he was a British soldier my fears were not lessened, yet was his
behavior and his words so unaccountable, taking into consideration who
he appeared to be, that I became numbed, like one who has received a
blow which deprives him of a portion of his senses.

How my comrades were affected I had no means of knowing; but understood
that they were obeying the commands of this man who had captured us,
because they continued on close at my heels, and from the stranger's
movements now and then I knew he was making certain they did not
attempt to deviate from the straight course which led to old Mary's
cabin.

Never did a journey seem so long, or a way so strange, as that over
which I walked like one in a dream in the darkness, surrounded on every
hand by the enemy, and knowing as I did that the king's officers set
little value on the life of those whom they call rebels.

As we advanced the situation became yet more strange and terrifying, if
indeed that could be possible, for suddenly I came to understand that
this stranger who had taken us in custody seemed familiar with the
course we shou