I
was anxious."

"I can easily understand that, for you have assumed much risk--even
ventured the life of the devoted Peter."

"Oh, no; you rate my devotion too high by far. Peter's life has not been
endangered."

"But the guard told me he was the direct cause of all that firing beyond
the ravine."

The starlight revealed the swift merriment in her eyes.

"I--I--well, I believe he was originally responsible, but--well, you see
I know Peter, Major Lawrence, and really there is no danger that he will
get hurt. I cannot imagine what they could have found to fire at so long,
but it is certainly not Peter. 'Twould be my guess that he is even now in
the house, calmly eating supper, not even wasting a smile on the racket
without. You may have observed he is not of an emotional disposition."

"My attention has, indeed, been called to that fact. Yet that does not
explain how he could be in two places at one and the same time."

"Nothing that Peter pleases to do is explainable. His ways are not our
ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts. He is simply Peter. He started all
this, but was never in front of those guns long. They must be shooting at
shadows. But, Major, we forget where we are, the perils about us, and the
necessity of your immediate escape. We must not stand talking here."

She was close beside me, looking up into my face, her eyes filled with
anxiety. Grant lay motionless upon the grass, a mere darker shadow. To
linger there, however strong the temptation, was to expose her to even
greater peril. Already Seldon's men must be returning toward the house.
There were words upon my lips I longed to speak, questions I desired to
ask, but I held these sternly back, restrained by the pleading in those
eyes.

"No, for your sake I must go at once," I answered soberly. "Seldon must
not find you here, nor must Grant suspect your connection with my assault
upon him. I doubt if he recognized my face in this darkness, although he
will surely realize the truth when he learns of my escape. But how can I
leave you here unprotected? When this man returns to consciousness--and
that can mean but a few moments--he will be furious."

"I shall be safe enough. He will have no opportunity to find me alone
again. To-night I had no conception that he was near, and was not even
armed. I--I have been afraid of him for months; he has acted like a
crazed man. But you must go!" She caught my arm, urging me toward the
thicket where the horse