elsewhere. "Oh, he was like a cat, and there are trees at the rear.
Probably he is safe long ago, or else a prisoner once more."

Beyond the gleam of the uncovered windows all was wrapped in complete
darkness, save that here and there we could distinguish the dull red
glare of camp-fires where the company cooks were yet at work, or some
sentry post had been established. All the varied sounds of a congested
camp at night were in the air--the champing and pounding of horses, the
murmur of men's voices, the distant rumbling of heavy wagons, with an
occasional shout, and the noise of axes. It was also evident, from the
numerous flitting lanterns, like so many glow-worms, the late labors of
the cooks, and other unmistakable signs, that active preparations for
an early movement were already well under way.

We turned sharply to the left, and proceeded down a comparatively
smooth road, which seemed to me to possess a rock basis, it felt so
hard. From the position of the stars I judged our course to be
eastward, but the night was sufficiently obscured to shroud all objects
more than a few yards distant. Except for the varied camp noises on
either side of us the evening was oppressively still, and the air had
the late chill of high altitudes. Mrs. Brennan pressed more closely to
me as we passed beyond the narrow zone of light, and unconsciously we
fell into step together.

"Are you chilled?" I asked, bending my head toward her.

"Not in the least; but I must confess to nervousness."

I think we both recalled my wrapping her in the flapping cavalry cloak
the night we were first alone together, for she added quickly: "I am