rwise there would be no sense in trying to protect
my property."

"Right again," he acknowledged, but did not swerve from what he had to
do. "Orderly," he commanded, "report to Lieutenant Harris at the stables
and have him hunt the woods and swamp for hidden horses. Hurry! We must
leave in half an hour."

As Morrison spoke his eye fell on the roadway and he started
perceptibly. When he turned back to the woman on the bench it was with a
sterner light in his eye.

"I also notice that a horse has recently been fed and watered in your
carriage road. _Whose was he?_"

Again that smooth, soft voice with its languid evasions. "We have
several neighbors, Colonel. They visit us at infrequent times."

"Undoubtedly," he conceded. "But do you usually feed their horses?"

She smiled faintly. "What little hospitality is ours extends to both man
and beast."

"I can well believe it," he replied, for he saw to cross-examine this
quick witted woman would be forever useless. "And in happier times I
could wish it might extend--to me.

"Oh, I mean no offense," he interrupted as Mrs. Cary rose haughtily. "I
only want you to believe that I'm sorry for this intrusion."

She raised her eyebrows faintly and sat down again. "And was that the
reason why you asked about my neighbor's horse?"

"No," he said quickly, and as suddenly caught and held her eye. "There's
a Rebel scout who has been giving us trouble--a handsome fellow riding a
bay horse. I thought, perhaps, he might have passed this way."

If he had thought he would detect anything in her face he was once more
mistaken.

"It is more than possible," Mrs. Cary remarked with a touch of
weariness. "The road out there is a public one."

"And where does it lead to, may I ask?"

"That depends upon which way you are traveling--and which fork you
take."

"Possibly. But suppose you were riding north. Wouldn't the right fork
lead to Richmond--and the left swing around toward the river crossing?"

"As to that I must refer you to a more competent authority," she
answered with a hint of some disclosure in her tones.

"Who?"

"Mr. Jefferson Davis," she replied and almost laughed outright as he
turned away to hide his vexation. This was an easy game for her to
play--and every moment she gained added to Herbert's safety. But if only
she could hear those three shots from across the river.

"Well, Harris?" said Morrison as his Lieutenant strode up.

"I have to report, sir, that we'