"I'll lead the way," said Colonel Talbot. "I know the best hotel,
and for travelers who need rest the best is always none too good."

He led briskly through the silent and lonely streets, until they came
to a large brick building with several lights shining from the wide and
open door. They entered the lobby of the hotel, one carrying his saddle
bags, the other his valise, and registered in the book that the sleepy
clerk shoved toward them. Several loungers still sat in cane-bottomed
chairs along the wall, and they cast curious glances at Harry and the
colonel.

The hotel was crowded, the clerk said. People had been crowding into
town in the last few days, as there was a great stir in the country
owing to the news from Charleston. He could give them only one room,
but it had two beds.

"It will do," said the colonel, in his soft but positive voice. "My
young friend and I have been traveling hard and we need rest."

Harry would have preferred a room alone, but his trust in Colonel Talbot
had already become absolute. This man must be what he claimed to be.
There was no trace of deceit about him. His heart had never before
warmed so much to a stranger.

Colonel Talbot closed and locked the door of their room. It was a large
bare apartment with two windows overlooking the town, and two small beds
against opposite walls. The colonel put his valise at the foot of one
bed, and walked to the window. The night had lightened somewhat and he
saw the roofs of buildings, the dim line of the yellow river, and the
dusky haze of hills beyond. He turned his head and looked steadily in