but he did not look around.

"Nonsense, Dorothy. How could a man get--" he began, in a very low
tone.

"I saw the leaves move, and just now I saw a foot near the rail. Be
careful, for heaven's sake, but look for yourself; he is near the
window."

Like statues they stood, she rigid under the strain, but brave
enough and cool enough to maintain a remarkable composure. She felt
the muscle of his forearm contract, and there swept over her a
strange dread. His eyes sought the spot indicated in a perfectly
natural manner, and there was no evidence of perturbation in his
gaze or posture. The foot of a man was dimly discernible in the
shadow, protruding from behind a great earthen jar. Without a word
he led her across the porch to where the others stood.

"Good-night, Mrs. Garrison," he said, calmly, taking the hand she
proffered. Dorothy, now trembling like a leaf, looked on in mute
surprise. Did he mean to depart calmly, with the knowledge that they
needed his protection? "Good-night, Miss Garrison. I trust I shall
see you soon." Then, in a lower tone: "Get the people around the
corner here, and not a word to them."

The ladies were quite well past the corner before he ventured to
tell the men, whom he held back on some trifling pretext, that there
was a man among the plants. The information might have caused a
small panic had not his coolness dominated the nerves of the others.