She nodded, as he paused an instant.

“Before morning they’ll be over there,” with a wave of the hand, “and our move checkmated.  Whose fault is it?  Yours and mine.  It’s enough to drive a man crazy, and you stand there and laugh.”

“I am not laughing.”

“Well, you were a minute ago.  Do you even suspect who the fellow is?”

“You said he was Major Ath—­”

“Oh, hell!” springing to his feet, with sword rattling, and hands clinched.  “I won’t stand this, not even from you.  You’re hiding something; what is it?  Is this Yank anything to you?”

“Absolutely nothing, Captain Le Gaire.  Take your hand from my arm, please.  Now I will trouble you to stop this controversy.  I am not indifferent, but I refuse to be bullied, and sworn at.  If you are so wild to capture this spy why don’t you make the rounds of the pickets instead of remaining here and quarrelling with me?  The man is not hiding behind my skirts.  I will bid you good-night.”

She was gone before he could even fling out a hand to stop her.  A moment he raged between table and wall; then flung out the door and down the steps, calling for his horse.

CHAPTER XII

AN ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE

The seriousness of my situation was clearly apparent, yet what could I do in order to save myself?  My word was pledged, and it was evident the girl had no intention of betraying my presence.  But would she come to me?  Would she give me the opportunity of escape?  It must be accomplished now if at all, before Le Gaire returned, or had time to complete his round of the pickets.  Every instant of delay robbed me of a chance—­and my life hung in the balance.  There was little doubt as to that; I could advance no military reason for being treated other than as a spy, and my fate would be the short shift meted out to such over the drum-head.  All this swept through my brain as I listened to the hoofs of Le Gaire’s horse pound the gravel outside, the sound dying away in the distance.  The sentinel marched slowly past the window, his figure silhouetted against the red glow of a camp-fire inside the gate.  Then, without a warning sound, the door was pushed ajar, and the girl slipped silently through.  The distant reflection of the fire barely served to reveal her face, and outline her figure.  She was breathing heavily and trembling with excitement, her voice barely audible.

“You—­you heard what was said in there?” she asked, eager to gain time.  “You know Captain Le Gaire has returned?”

“Yes,” thinking to calm her by an appearance of coolness.  “He seems to be a most blood-thirsty individual.”

“He was angry at being deceived.  No one can blame him, but I simply had to tantalize him in order to get him away.”

“Was that it?  Do you mean so you might come here to me?”

“Why, of course.  I had promised you.  Do you think I would demean myself by lying—­to a Yank?  Besides,” her voice faltered, “you would have kept your parole, and—­and—­”