revenge, or have mistaken him for another in the poor light. At any
rate the unexpected identification helped him to play his part, and, if
the Lieutenant lived, he would later acknowledge his mistake. There
was no occasion to worry; he could clear himself of the charge whenever
the time came; half his company would know he was in barracks when the
firing began. There were women out on the walk, their skirts
fluttering as they waited anxiously to learn the news, but he could not
determine if she was among them. Voices asked questions, but the
corporal hurried him along, without making any reply. Then he was
thrust roughly into a stone-lined cell, and left alone. Outside in the
corridor two guards were stationed. Hamlin sat down on the iron bed,
dazed by the silence, endeavoring to collect his thoughts. The nearest
guard, leaning on his gun, watched carefully.

Voices reached him from outside, echoing in through the high,
iron-barred window, but they were distant, the words indistinguishable.
As his brain cleared he gave no further thought to his own predicament,
only considering how he could best divert suspicion from her. It was
all a confused maze, into the mystery of which he was unable to
penetrate. That it was Molly McDonald shrinking there in the dark
corner of the barracks wall he had no doubt. She might not have
recognized him, or imagined that he saw her, but that spear of light
had certainly revealed a face not to be mistaken. White as it was,
haggard with terror, half concealed by straggling hair, the
identification was nevertheless complete. The very piteousness of
expression appealed to him. She was not a girl easily frightened; no
mere promiscuous shooting, however startling, would have brought that
look to her face. He had seen her in danger before, had tested her
coolness under fire. This meant something altogether different. What?
Could it be that Gaskins had wronged the girl, had insulted her, and
that she, in response, had shot him down? In the darkness of
conjecture there seemed no other adequate explanation. The two were
intimate; the rumor of an engagement was already circulating about the
garrison. And the stricken man had endeavored to shift the blame on
him. Hamlin could not believe this was done through any desire to
injure; the Lieutenant had no cause for personal dislike which would
account for such an accusation. They had only met once, and then
briefly. There was no