"Hold yourself ready for a sudden start," I said warningly to my
companion. "If there is any noise of a struggle yonder I shall drive in
the spurs."

As I spoke I swung the Sergeant's horse around to my side, where I
could control him more readily.

There was no reply from the woman, but I noticed she endeavored to draw
together the flapping cape of her cloak, as though she felt chilled by
the wind, and her figure seemed to stiffen in the saddle.

"Are you cold?" I questioned, more perhaps to throttle my own
nervousness by speech than from better motive.

She shook her head; then, as if thinking better of it, answered
lightly:

"The wind appears to find no obstacle in this cloak, but I am not
suffering."

I wrapped the loose rein of Craig's horse about the pommel of my saddle
and bent toward her.

"Permit me," I said; "you probably do not comprehend the intricacies of
a cavalry cloak. If I fasten these upper frogs I think it will help to
keep out the night air."

Without protest she permitted me to draw the flapping cloth together
and fasten it closer about her throat; but whatever tantalizing