rt, as he strode moodily to and fro, not to leave things
of value to fall into the hands of the enemy. Stuart paused for a moment
with a gloomy face. Then, "They shall not have this," he said angrily.
The little red silk riding-mask, that was wont to look down from the
wall, null and inexpressive, with no suggestion in its vacant, sightless
orbs of the brightness of vanished eyes, with no faint trace of the fair
face that it had once sheltered, save as memory might fill the blank
contour, began to blaze humbly as he thrust it among the burning papers
on the hearth. An odd interpretation of things of value, certainly--a
flimsy memento of some bright day, long ago, and far away, when, not all
unwelcome, he had ridden at a lady's bridle-rein. Demere looked at him
with sudden interest, seemed about to speak, checked himself and said
nothing. And thus with this souvenir the romance of Stuart's life
perished unstoried.

More characteristic thoughts possessed him later. He came to Demere's
bedside that night as he lay sleeping in quiet peace, even his somnolent
nerves realizing the prospect of release. Stuart roused him with a new
anxiety. There was a very considerable quantity of powder in the fort,
far more than the Indians, unacquainted with the large charges required
for cannon, suspected that they possessed. By surrendering this great
supply of powder, Stuart argued, as well as the guns, they only
postponed not precluded their destruction. Brought down with the guns to
Fort Prince George in the hands of French cannoneers, this ample supply
of artillery would easily level those works with the ground. The French
officers, who they had reason to suspect were lurking in the Lower
Towns, would be unlikely to have otherwise so large a store of
ammunition in reach, capable of maintaining a siege, and before this
could be procured for the service of the surrendered cannon some
reenforcements to the commandant of Fort Prince George would arrive, or
an aggressive expedition be sent out from South Carolina.

"At all events this quantity of powder in the hands of the Cherokees
makes it certain that a siege of Fort Prince George will follow close on
the fall of Fort Loudon," Stuart declared.

Demere raised himself on his elbow to gaze at Stuart by the light of
the flickering candle which the visitor held in his hand.

"I am afraid that you are right," Demere said, after a grave pause. "But
how can we help it?"

"Hide the powder,-