He shook himself.  His was a sound and healthy mind, and he would allow no taint of morbidness to enter it.  He knew that there was nothing supernatural in the world, but he did believe that this woman with the gray hair, the burning eyes and the sharp chin, looking as if it had been cut from a piece of steel, was the possessor of uncanny wisdom.  Beyond a doubt she knew where the marksman was hidden, and, unless he watched her ceaselessly, she would give him a signal of some kind.

Perhaps he was hidden in the garden among the rose bushes, and he would see her hand, if it was raised ever so slightly.  Maybe that was why the window was open, because the clearest glass even could obscure a signal meant to be faint, unnoticed by all except the one for whom it was intended.  He would have that garden searched thoroughly when the sergeant returned, and his heart beat with a throb of relief when he heard the stalwart Whitley’s footstep once more at the door.

“We have found nothing, sir,” said the sergeant.  “We’ve explored every place big enough to hide a cat.”

“Search the garden out there,” said Dick.  “Look behind every vine and bush.”

“You will at least spare my roses,” said the woman.

“They shall not be harmed,” replied the lieutenant, “but my men must see what, if anything, is in the garden.”

She said no more.  She had not even raised her head when she spoke, and the sergeant and his men went into the garden.  They looked everywhere but they damaged nothing.  They did not even break off a single flower for themselves.  Dick had felt confident that after the failure to find the sharpshooter in the house he would be discovered there, but his net brought in no fish.

He glanced at the sergeant, who happened to glance at him at the same time.  Each read the look in the eyes of the other.  Each said that they had failed, that they were wasting time, that there was nothing to be gained by hunting longer for a single enemy, that it was time to ride on, as flankers on the right of the main column.

“Madame,” said Dick politely, “we leave you now.  I repeat my regret at being compelled to search your house in this manner.  My duty required it, although we have found nobody.”

“You found nobody because nobody is here.”

“Evidently it is so.  Good-by.  We wish you well.”

“Good-by.  I hope that all of you will be shot by our brave troops before night!”

The wish was uttered with the most extraordinary energy and fierceness.  For the first time she had raised her level tone, and the lifted eyes that looked into Dick’s were blazing with hate.  He uttered an exclamation and stepped back.  Then he recovered himself and said politely: 

“Madame, I do not wish any such ill to you or yours.”

But she had resumed her knitting, and Dick, without another word, walked out of the house, followed by the sergeant and his men.