this morning. So,
Lord Aylward, until we have settled what we are going to do, I must keep
you under arrest. Take him to his tent, Jeekie, and put a guard over
him."

"Yes, Major, certainly, Major. Right turn, march! my Lord, and quick,
please, since poor, common Jeekie not want dirty his black finger
touching you."

Aylward obeyed, but at the door of the tent swung round and favoured
Alan with a very evil look.

"Luck is with you for the moment, Major Vernon," he said, "but if you
are wise you will remember that you never have been and never will be
my match. It will turn again, I have no doubt, and then you may look to
yourself, for I warn you I am a bad enemy."

Alan did not answer, but for the first time Barbara sprang to her feet
and spoke.

"You mean that you are a bad man, Lord Aylward, and a coward too, or
otherwise you would not have tortured me as you have done. Well, when it
seemed impossible that I should escape from you except in one way, I was
saved by another way of which I never dreamed. Now I tell you that I do
not fear you any more. But I think," she added slowly, "that you would
do well to fear for yourself. I don't know why, but it comes into my
mind that though neither Alan nor I shall lift a finger against you,
you have a great deal of which to be afraid. Remember what I said to you
months ago when you were angry because I would not marry you. I believe
it is all coming true, Lord Aylward."

Then Barbara turned her back upon him, and that was the last time that
either she or Alan ever saw his face.

He was gone, and Barbara, her head upon her lover's shoulder and her
sweet eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude, was beginning to tell
him everything that had befallen her when suddenly they heard a loud
cough outside the tent.

"It's that confounded Jeekie," said Alan, and he called to him to come
in.

"What's the matter now?" he asked crossly.

"Breakfast, Major. His lordship got plenty good stores, borrow some from
him and give him chit. Coming in one minute--hot coffee, kipper herring,
rasher bacon, also butter (best Danish), and Bath Oliver biscuit."

"Very well," said Alan, but Jeekie did not move.

"Very well," repeated Alan.

"No, Major, not very well, very ill. Thought those lies bring down
clouds."

"What do you mean, Jeekie?"

"Mean, Major, that Asiki smelling about this camp. Porter-man what go
to fetch water see them. Also believe they catch rest of those soldie