She turned her brown eyes lovingly, yet with a certain pretty
trouble in the brow, and such a searching, pleading inquiry in her
glance, that the captain kissed her at once. Then came the final
embrace, performed by the captain in a half-perfunctory, quiet
manner, with a due regard for the friable nature of part of his
provisions. Satisfying himself of the integrity of the eggs by
feeling for them in his pocket, he waved a military salute with the
other hand to Miss Thankful, and was gone. A few minutes later the
sound of his horse's hoofs rang sharply from the icy hillside.

But, as he reached the summit, two horsemen wheeled suddenly from
the shadow of the roadside, and bade him halt.

"Capt. Brewster, if this moon does not deceive me?" queried the
foremost stranger with grave civility.

"The same. Major Van Zandt, I calculate?" returned Brewster
querulously.

"Your calculation is quite right. I regret Capt. Brewster, that it
is my duty to inform you that you are under arrest."

"By whose orders?"

"The commander-in-chief's."

"For what?"

"Mutinous conduct, and disrespect of your superior officers."