Then, from deeper in the thicket, two bright flames stabbed the
darkness and the crash of the shots re-echoed among the trees.

Both men in the touring car instantly turned loose their pistols;
Renoux said, in a voice at once perplexed and amused:

"Go home, Barres. I don't want people to know you are out here....
I'll see you again soon."

"Isn't there anything----"

"Nothing. Please--you would oblige me by keeping clear of this if you
really desire to help me."

There were no more shots. Renoux stepped leisurely into the tonneau.

"Well, what the devil do you gentlemen make of this?" Barres heard him
say in his cool, humorous voice. "It really looks as though the boches
were getting nervous."

The car started. Barres could see Renoux and another man sitting with
pistols levelled as the car glided along the fringe of woods. But
there were no more shots on either side, and, after the car had
disappeared, Barres turned and retraced his way.

Then, as he entered his own gate by the side wicket, and turned to
lock it with his own key, an electric torch flashed in his face,
blinding him.

"Let him have it!" muttered somebody behind the dazzling light.

"That's not one of them!" said another voice distinctly. "Look out
what you're doing! Douse your glim!"

Instantly the fierce glare faded to a cinder. Barres heard running
feet on the macadam, the crash of shrubbery opposite. But he could see
nobody; and presently the footsteps in the woods were no longer
audible.

There seemed to be nothing for him to do in the matter. He lingered by
the wicket for a while, peering into the night, listening. He saw
nothing; heard nothing more that night.

XXVI

'BE-N EIRINN I!

Barres senior rose with the sun. Also with determination, which took
the form of a note slipped under his wife's door as he was leaving the
house:

"DARLING:

"I lost last night's fishing and I'm hanged if I lose it to-night!
So don't ask me to fritter away a perfectly good evening at the
Gerhardt's party, because the sun is up; I'm off to the woods; and
I shall remain there until the last trout breaks.

"Tell the little Soane girl that I left a rod for her in the
work-room, if she cares to join me at the second lake. Garry can
bring her over and leave her if he doesn't wish to fish. Don't
send a man over with a lot of food and shawls. I've a creel full
of provisions, and I am sufficiently clad, and I hate to be