to be used as protection from rain.  Here was opportunity, and I went at it with eagerness.  It proved a hard job, running over that rough road in the dark, while the pony trotted tirelessly, but I got those chains unfastened, one at a time, and then the shelf settled naturally down into position.  It was narrow, and I felt some question as to the strength of the supports, but risking all this, managed to work my way up until I half lay, half crouched, along the slats, holding on grimly as the two wheels bounced briskly from side to side, threatening to send me sprawling out into the road.  By this time the officer had reined back his horse, but was still out of sight, and I succeeded in unbuckling the straps, and lowering the strip of canvas over me, stuffing the edges beneath my body so as to keep them from flapping.  I was tired and sore, but now reasonably safe, with my eyes at an opening through which I could gaze out.  I began to feel happy, too, thinking of the surprise which was about to come to Billie.

We clattered on down a long slope, apparently making no effort to avoid noise.  It seemed we must be drawing near the river, yet the night was so dark, and our passage so rapid, I could make out no familiar landmarks through my peep-hole.  Indeed I had about all I could do to hold on.  We were halted twice, but a word from the officer passed us along safely.  One picket-post had a fire glowing in close against the rocks, and the sergeant stood within a foot of me.  I caught the word “Cumberland,” but whatever else of explanation may have been uttered failed to reach my ears, muffled as they were beneath the canvas.  A few hundred yards beyond this point, at the end of a deep cut, the officer drew up his horse sharply, leaned over the wheel, and shook hands with the person inside.

“I have attained my limit,” he said.  “That was our last picket-post back yonder, and my orders were strict.  You know the road, of course.”

“Perfectly, Lieutenant,” responded a low voice, muffled under the hood.  “I have travelled it often before.  I thank you so much, and think it will all come out right this time.”

“I have no doubt of that,” he replied, with a little laugh.  “Hope I may renew the acquaintance under more pleasant circumstances.  Meanwhile, good luck and good-bye.”

He sat erect upon his horse, watching as we clattered past, appearing scarcely more than a dim shadow, yet I thought he held his hat in his hand.  Billie laid on the gad, however, as if to make up for lost time, and the pony trotted off at such a burst of speed as to keep me busy clinging to my perch.  It was an exceedingly rough road, rutty and stony, up hill and down, while the pony condescended to walk on the steepest grades only, and occasionally took the declines at a gallop, the carryall bounding from side to side as though mad.  Apparently no fear of possible disaster disturbed Billie, however, for I could hear every few moments the slash of a whip