I care. It is
for--for my brother, Sir Louis."

"But, Miss Irma, do not forget that I----" The words came bravely, but
halted before the enormity of what I was going to say. So I had perforce
to alter my formation in face of my dear enemy, and only continued
lamely enough, "I had better see what the letter says."

"Yes," she answered shortly, "I suppose that is necessary."

The letter was written on a sheet of common paper, ruled vertically in
red at either side as for a bill of lading. It had simply been folded
once, not sealed in the ordinary way, but thrust through sharply with
the knife which had pinned it to the wood, traversing both folds. The
knife, which I saw afterwards down-stairs, was a small one, with a
broadish blade shaped and pointed like a willow leaf. I had it a good
while in my hand, and I can swear that it had been lately used in
cutting the commonest kind of sailor tobacco.

The message read in these words exactly, which I copied carefully on my
killivine-tablets--

"The first danger is for this night, being the eve of Saint John.
Admit no one excepting those who bring with them friends you can
trust. Fear not to use the signal agreed upon. Help will be near."

Now this seemed to me to be very straightforward. None but a friend to
the children would speak of the beacon so familiarly, yet so
discreetly--"the signal agreed upon." Nor would an enemy advise caution
as to any being admitted to the house.

But Miss Irma had not passed through so many troubles without acquiring
a certain lack of confidence in the fairest pretences. She shook her
head when I ventured to tell her what I thought. She was willing to take
my help, but not my judgment.

The words, "Admit no one, _excepting those who bring with them friends
you can trust_," did not ring true in her ear. And the phrase, "the
signal agreed upon," might possibly show that while the writer made
sure of there being a signal of some kind, he was ignorant of its
nature.

In face of all this there seemed nothing for it but to wait--doors shut,
windows barred, "King George" ready charged, and the stuff for the
beacon knowingly arranged.

And this last I immediately proceeded to set in order. I had had
considerable experience. For during the late French wars we of Eden
Valley, though the most peaceful people in the world, had often been
turned upside down by reports of famous victories. After each of these
every one had to illumina