However my naturally energetic spirit revolted at inactivity, for the
time being my faintness precluded any thought of doing other than
obeying her orders, and I lay there silent, propped up against the
logs, my eager eyes following her rapid, graceful movements with a
constantly increasing interest. As she worked, the reflection of the
red flames became mingled with the gray dawn, until the bare and
cheerless interior grew more and more visible. Her search was far from
unsuccessful, while her resourcefulness astonished me, old campaigner
as I was; for it was scarcely more than full daylight before she had me
at the table, and I was doing full justice to such coarse food as the
larder furnished. A Confederate soldier in those days could not well
afford to affect delicacy in matters of the cuisine, and indeed our
long fast had left us both where any kind of food was most welcome.

The eating helped me greatly; but for some time so busy were we that
neither of us spoke. On my own part I experienced a strange hesitancy
in addressing her upon terms of equality. Ordinarily not easily
embarrassed in feminine society, I felt in this instance a definite
barrier between us, which prevented my feeling at ease. Now and then as
we sat opposite each other, eating amid a silence most unpleasant, I
would catch her eyes glancing across at me, but they were lowered
instantly whenever I ventured to meet them. Finally I broke the
stillness with a commonplace remark:

"I presume your people will be greatly worried by this time over your
mysterious disappearance."

A flush swept her throat and cheeks, but she did not lift her eyes from
the plate. "Yes," she answered slowly, "Frank is doubtless searching
for me long before this."