me. Yet I knew not why.

I turned these thoughts over in my mind, speculating idly upon them,
not because I felt any interest in their solution, or in the woman
riding at my side, but because they seemed to fall into order to the
steady music of my horse's feet and the darkness of the night. "No," I
said to myself, "there is certainly no leaving her except in a
disciplined camp; young or old, Yankee or what not, she is in our care,
and we'll keep her out of the hands of those cut-throats between the
lines."

I glanced toward her, wondering what the morning light might reveal as
to her appearance. She was sitting erect and easy in the saddle, yet
seemed to ride with her face averted from me.

"You ride as though born to the saddle," I said pleasantly; and
although I spoke low, we were so close together that my voice carried
distinctly to her ears. "We have been sufficiently conceited to suppose
that to be an accomplishment peculiar to our Southern women."

"I have been accustomed to ride since childhood," she replied rather
shortly, and I was conscious of a restraint in her manner far from
pleasing. Yet I ventured upon one more effort at conversation.

"Is Major Brennan an officer on Sheridan's staff?"

"I was not aware "--and I could not mistake the accent of
vindictiveness in her voice--"that prisoners were obliged to converse
against their will."