“But what can it all amount to?” asked Fred in turn; “they may give you a half-hour or so, but that does not count.”

“If your estimable mother could manage to—­ah—­look desperately ill when the messenger returns, why, it might help matters.”

But the good woman shook her head.  Appreciating the gravity of the situation, she could not be a party to such a deception, even though beneficent results might follow.

“He saw me as I was, and thus he must see me when he comes again.  My conscience would not permit it otherwise.”

“You are right, Mrs. Whitney, and I beg your pardon,” replied the captain.

Meanwhile, Monteith Sterry was thinking hard.  Begging the indulgence of the others, he drew Capt.  Asbury aside.

“I have decided upon an attempt,” said he abruptly, “which you must not forbid, even though your judgment may condemn it.”

“What is it?”

“I am going to try to get away.”

“How?” was the surprised question; “what chance have you of succeeding, when every side of the house is watched?”

“Vesey told me, just as he was leaving, that he was not allowed to take his place as guard at the stables, which explains why he failed to give me the signal.”

“He is unaware of what Miss Whitney has done?”

“I do not know of a surety, for he made no reference to it, but you heard his remark, which indicates that he is ignorant.”

“Sterry,” said the captain impressively, “the only friend you have among the rustlers is that same Vesey, and I place less faith in him than you do; yet you propose this wild scheme, without even the doubtful help of that man, and still expect me to approve it.”

“You put it truthfully; I will only say that in the darkness I hope to be taken for one of them.”

“And if you are?”

“I will work my way beyond the lines, and then make for the camp of the stockmen.”

“On foot or horseback?”

“I can hardly expect to obtain a horse, but let me once gain the chance, and I will show some sprinting.”

“You ignore the services of Miss Whitney?”

“It was a brave and characteristic deed, but a woman acts from intuition rather than reason.  There is not a shadow of hope that she will accomplish anything.”

“In my judgment, the prospect is as favourable for her as for you.”

“Well,” replied Sterry, “I rather expected you to talk that way, so your condemnation is discounted.  I intend to pass out of the rear door within the next three minutes; I wish you to hold it, ready to open in the event of my deciding on a hasty return.  If such return does not follow in the course of a quarter of an hour, you may conclude that I won’t be back.”

“I have already concluded that,” was the significant comment.

The candle diffused enough illumination to show the anxious faces turned toward the couple as they walked back from the corner to which they had withdrawn for their brief consultation.