's sense, and, as my men passed on and I
fell behind them, she said, "Ah, Captain Gordon, where have you been
these many days? Chasing the Black Colonel, eh?"

It was said easily, with a half-smile, as if she were alluding to
something which had happened since we last met, as, indeed, it had. It
was good, however, that the light was failing, because I could feel my
face burn, not with shame, but with a confusion in which there was more
than the Black Colonel.

"Oh no, Mistress Marget," I answered, "one cannot always be in the
company of the Black Colonel, however interesting some of us may find
him." This, observe, was intended as a delicate touch for her, but it
probably struck her as clumsy, so much finer is a woman's feeling than
a man's.

"You found him interesting then," she merely replied. "I'm glad to
hear that, because, as a distant relative of ours, he is really one of
the men-folk of the family. Perhaps he has some of the nature which,
so they say, characterizes our women? His Forbes grandmother or
great-grandmother, whichever she was, would have passed it on to him."

She stopped when she noticed the sweet conceit into which she had
fallen, for certainly what she had claimed in name of the Forbes women,
was richly present in herself. She had sparkle, bloom, charm, that
witching, elusive, mixed something in a woman which nobody can describe
but which every true man feels, and she looked it all in the gloamin'
of that perfect Highland evening.

"My dear Mistress Forbes," I said more formally, "I could forgive the
Black Colonel much if I thought he had any of the qualities of your
Forbes women-folk. As it is, I envy him your championship," at which
she looked at me with considering eyes.

"A woman naturally champions all her men," she said with a deft smile
for me, as being also a relation, "and it would be sad if she didn't;
but I have never yet seen the Black Colonel. He has not come our way,
although, no doubt, we should, for what has been, make him as welcome
as your men, quartered in our old castle, might permit."

"Naturally! Why not?" I said, for I understand her feelings though,
somehow, the remark stung me a little. "Perhaps," I added, "you may
have your wish gratified and meet him one of these days."

"Do you mean as a prisoner," she asked quickly.

"No. I mean that when the Black Colonel wants to call on anybody, he
does not let danger or ceremony stand in his path. So far, I ta