at school, and he had no moral
courage, though plenty of physical. Still, under the circumstances, I
should not have thought he would have gone."

"You mean because of Miss Hannay, Bathurst?"

"Yes, that is what I mean."

"That sort of thing might weigh with you or me, Bathurst, but not with
him. He has loved and ridden away many times before this, but in this
case, fortunately, I don't think he will leave an aching heart behind
him."

"You don't mean to say, Doctor, that you don't think she cares for him?"

"I have not asked her the question," the Doctor said dryly. "I dare say
she likes him; in fact, I am ready to admit that there has been what you
may call a strong case of flirtation; but when a young woman is
thrown with an uncommonly good looking man, who lays himself out to be
agreeable to her, my experience is that a flirtation generally comes
of it, especially when the young woman has no one else to make herself
agreeable to, and is, moreover, a little sore with the world in general.
I own that at one time I was rather inclined to think that out of sheer
perverseness the girl was going to make a fool of herself with that good
looking scamp, but since we have been shut up here I have felt easy in
my mind about it. And now, if you will take my rifle for ten minutes,
I will go down and get a cup of tea; I volunteered to take sentry work,
but I didn't bargain for keeping it all night without relief. By the
way, I told Forster of your offer of your horse, and I think he is going
to take it."

"He is welcome to it," Bathurst said carelessly; "it will be of no use
to me."

"Now, look here," the Doctor said shortly; "just put Miss Hannay out of
your head for the present, and attend to the business on hand. I do not
think there is much chance of their trying it on again tonight, but they
may do so, so please to keep a sharp lookout while I am below."

"I will be careful, Doctor," Bathurst said, with a laugh; but the Doctor
had so little faith in his watchfulness that as soon as he went below he
sent up Wilson to share his guard.

At twelve o'clock the sandbags were removed sufficiently to allow a
horse to pass through, and Forster's and Bathurst's animals were led
out through the breach, their feet having been muffled with blankets to
prevent their striking a stone and arousing the attention of the enemy's
sentinels. Once fairly out the mufflings were removed and Forster sprang
into his saddle.

"Goodby, Ma