istent, in his wish to learn more of this mysterious young woman
who had appealed to him for aid, yet who now made no further sign.
Who was she? What _sort_ was she? he demanded of himself. God! if
she was one sort. And why should she _not_ be that sort? Did not
the River carry many sorts? Was not the army ever gallant? What
officer ever hesitated in case of a fair damsel? And what fair
damsel was not fair game in the open contest among men--that old,
old, oldest and keenest of all contests since this hoary world
began?

"I am sure the fatigue of the journey across the mountains must
have left you quite weary," he ventured, addressing her. "There's
only the choice of sleeping, or of hanging over the deck rail and
looking at these hills." He waved a hand toward a window, whence
might be seen the near-by shores.

Josephine St. Auban showed no sign of perturbation as she answered:
"Not so weary as busy. The duties of an amanuensis leave one small
time for recreation." Her face was demureness itself.

[Illustration: Josephine showed no sign of perturbation.]

The situation assumed swift complications. Carlisle caught his
cue, with alertness fairly to be called brilliant. "Yes," said he,
"the young lady is of foreign education and family, and is most
skilful in these respects. I should find it difficult to carry
forward my literary work without her able assistance. It is a boon
which even few public men have shared with myself. You know, I am
in the West in view of certain writings." He virtuously sat erect,
with a fine air, presently pushing back his chair.

Dunwody looked from one to the other in perplexity. He had
expected to find a woman claiming his aid, or rather his
acquaintance under excuse of a plea for aid. He found both these
apparently in league against him, and one of these apparently after
all not what he had thought! His face flushed. Meantime Josephine
St. Auban arose, bowed, and left them.

When the two men found themselves alone, Dunwody, for a time lost
in moody silence, at length broke out into a peal of laughter.
"Well, human nature is human nature, I suppose. I make no comment,
further than to say that I consider all the lady's fears were
groundless. She has been well treated. There was no need to call
for _my_ aid. The army is hard to defeat, Captain, and always was!"

"I had not myself regarded any officer in the light of an oppressor
of the distressed amanuensis," he