"Lambine!" she exclaimed. "Make haste, will you?" her foot moving
impatiently.

My fingers had got numb in the cold air, and I must have been very
awkward, for presently she boxed my ears and drew her foot away.

"Dieu!" said she. "Tell him to drive on."

I got to my seat quickly, confident that nature had not intended me
for a lady's-maid. Awhile later we heard the call of a picket far
afield, but saw no camp. A horseman--I thought him a cavalry
officer--passed us, flashing in our faces the light of a dark
lantern, but said nothing. It must have been near midnight when,
as we were going slowly through deep sand, I heard the clang of a
cow-bell in the near darkness. Another sounded quickly a bit
farther on. The driver gave no heed to it, although I recognized
the signal, and knew something would happen shortly. We had come
into the double dark of the timber when, suddenly, our horses
reared, snorting, and stopped. The driver felt for his big pistol,
but not in the right place; for two hours or more it had been
stowed away in the deep pocket of my gown. Not a word was spoken.
By the dim light of the lanterns we could see men all about us with
pikes looming in the dark. For a breath or two there was perfect
silence; then the driver rose quickly and shouted: "Who are you?"

"Frien's o' these 'ere women," said one I recognized as the
Corporal D'ri.

He spoke in a low tone as he opened the door.