Company

Published, March, 1909

TO
GEORGE F. D. TRASK

IN MEMORY OF
OUR FIRST MARTIAL EXPLOITS
IN THE NURSERY

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that
it may be displayed because of the truth.--PSALM lx, 4.

PREFACE

In the personality and exploits of the "Special Messenger,"
the author has been assured that a celebrated historical
character is recognizable--Miss Boyd, the famous Confederate
scout and spy.

It is not uncommon that the readers of a book know more
about that book than the author.
R. W. C.

CONTENTS

PART ONE

WHAT SHE WAS
Page

I. Noncombatants 3

PART TWO

WHAT SHE BECAME

II. Special Messenger 39

III. Absolution 67

IV. Romance 99

V. Red Ferry 127

VI. An Air Line 157

VII. The Pass 192

VIII. Ever After 223

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE

"Daintily her handsome horse set foot in the water" Frontispiece

"'They seem to be allfired sure of us'" 78

"Then, like a flash his hand fell to his holster, and it was empty" 90

"'Turn around,' said the Special Messenger" 176

"She dropped her sunbonnet--stooped to recover it" 216

"White-faced, desperate, she clung to him with the tenacity
of a lynx" 220

"'We was there--I know that; yes, an' we had a fight'" 238

"'Yes,' she gasped, 'the Special Messenger--noncombatant!'" 258

PART ONE

WHAT SHE WAS

I

NONCOMBATANTS

About five o'clock that evening a Rhode Island battery clanked through
the village and parked six dusty guns in a pasture occupied by some
astonished cows.

A little later t