"Search the garden out there," said Dick. "Look behind every vine and
bush."

"You will at least spare my roses," said the woman.

"They shall not be harmed," replied the lieutenant, "but my men must see
what, if anything, is in the garden."

She said no more. She had not even raised her head when she spoke,
and the sergeant and his men went into the garden. They looked
everywhere but they damaged nothing. They did not even break off a
single flower for themselves. Dick had felt confident that after the
failure to find the sharpshooter in the house he would be discovered
there, but his net brought in no fish.

He glanced at the sergeant, who happened to glance at him at the same
time. Each read the look in the eyes of the other. Each said that they
had failed, that they were wasting time, that there was nothing to be
gained by hunting longer for a single enemy, that it was time to ride on,
as flankers on the right of the main column.

"Madame," said Dick politely, "we leave you now. I repeat my regret at
being compelled to search your house in this manner. My duty required it,
although we have found nobody."

"You found nobody because nobody is here."

"Evidently it is so. Good-by. We wish you well."