t out, and it was quite clean. It was not loaded, and it had
not lately been discharged.

"I tried as hard as I could, captain!" whined Sim; "but he came upon me
so sudden like, that I was mastered at once."

"What were you doing there, Gray? You were not on duty. Your place was
in bed."

"I could not sleep, sir," said Gray. "I doubted this man, and I came to
see."

"Why, you jumped right on me, sudden like, out of the darkness!" said
Sim.

"Silence, Sim!" said the Captain. "Gray, this charge must be
investigated. You are under arrest. Sergeant, put this man in irons!"

"But, Captain--"

"Silence, sir! You can make your defence when you are tried by
court-martial."

"I hope, captain," whined Sim, "that it won't be my doing as he's
punished. I'd a deal rather help a fellow than get him into trouble."

"You are on duty, sir! Attend to your post!" cried Captain Smithers.

He turned angrily then on Private Gray, who was so cruelly mortified,
especially as, glancing upward, he saw the window was open, and Rachel
Linton and her cousin there, that he could not or would not speak a word
in his defence. He gave Sim a look that made that scoundrel shiver, and
then said to himself:

"She will not believe that I am a traitor!"

He glanced involuntarily upwards as this thought occurred to him, and
the captain ground his teeth with rage as he saw the glance; but feeling
as he did that he had his rival beneath his heel, a glow of triumph ran
through him.

The next moment, though, all that was gentlemanly and true came to the
surface, and he felt that Private Gray was not the man who could be
guilty of such a crime. Sim must be the offending party, and Gray be
too proud to speak. He could not iron him, or doubt his honour; he was
too true a man; and as Sergeant Lund unwillingly came forward with a
file of men, the captain motioned him back.

"This is no time for making prisoners," he said. "Sergeant, change the
sentry here. Place two men on guard. Private Sim, go to the
guard-room: I may want to question you. Private Gray, this is an awful
charge against you, and if you are guilty you will be shot."

There was a faint sound as of some one's breath catching at the window
above, but it was heard by Captain Smithers and Private Gray alone as
they stood face to face.

"I know it, captain!" said Gray, quietly.

"We are in face of the enemy," continued Captain Smithers. "Take your
rifle again, and hel