would be no additional barrier between us, would never cause her to suspect that I had attacked him wantonly, actuated by personal motives.  He might try to make her think so, if he were the kind I believed, his mind already suspicious of her interest in me.  Her very sympathy for his wounds would make her easily influenced; this natural sympathy must not be inflamed by doubt of my motives and the thought that I had deliberately sought the man’s life.  It may have been two rods between the fence and the grape arbor, and I called to her softly.

CHAPTER XIV

ACROSS THE RIVER

She came toward me swiftly, slipping through the night like a shadow, instantly recognizing my voice.

“You—­you are not hurt, Lieutenant Galesworth?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“No; merely bruised, and shaken up—­the horse did that.”

“Oh; was it you who had that struggle with the horse?  I—­I thought he would surely kill the man.”

“The poor fellow was frightened,” and I stroked his neck softly, “and certainly gave me a hard tussle.  But that’s all over now.  I want to explain what has happened before I leave.”

“Yes.”

“I owe you that, do I not, wearing your colors?”

I could not perceive the expression of her face, but the tone of her voice was not altogether encouraging.

“They were but expressive of my best wishes; of course I wished you to succeed.”

“I wonder—­will you continue your good wishes after hearing my story?”

“What do you mean?  You have not killed any one?”

“No; but I have hurt one who seems to have some claim upon you.”

She drew in her breath quickly, clasping her hands.

“Who?—­tell me!  Can you mean Captain Le Gaire?”

“I regret to say ‘yes’; this was his horse.  Now don’t blame me until you hear the whole story.  I will tell it all in very few words, and then go.”

“But—­but you are sure he is not seriously hurt?”

“He may have a rib or collar-bone broken, and is still unconscious; nothing that will keep him out of mischief long.  I wanted to tell you all about the affair myself—­I don’t trust Le Gaire.”

“Why say that to me?”

“Because I must.  If I understand the man the very first thing he will do will be to poison your mind against me—­”

“He?  Why?”

“Miss Hardy,” I said soberly, “what use is there for us to play at cross-purposes?  You realize that Captain Le Gaire suspects that you have an interest in me, that you have helped in my escape.  He doesn’t like me any the better for that.  Men will do strange things when they are in love—­such men as Le Gaire.  Do you suppose I intend permitting him to thus influence you against me, when I am where I cannot defend myself?”

“But he would never do that; I am sure, he never would.”