ion of the
voice:

"I have walked around so long, Fitz, that it seems impossible to take
another step. Since we must pass the time in some way 'twixt now and
sunrise, why not let it be at this place where we can stretch out at
full length, and mayhap sleep."

"Thinking you would tire me out, eh?" Abel Hunt cried, he having as a
matter of course been so close to our heels that it was possible for him
to hear the lightest word.

"It makes little difference whether we tire you out, or you remain near
by, so that you keep at a respectful distance. It is not your following
which annoys me; but your striving to hug so closely."

"Perhaps I am not good enough for such as you?" Hunt cried angrily, and
now it was that I ceased striving to hold my temper in check, replying
in quite as hot a tone as the question had been asked:

"You have hit exactly upon the truth, Abel Hunt, and it is no news to
you, for from the time I can remember I have ever striven to give you a
wide berth, because of your breeding."

"Before this war is over it may be that you, Fitzroy Hamilton, will
regret that you were not bred in different fashion. The people of
Virginia are not all alike, and many will hold accountable those who
have brought the war into our borders."

It was useless to bandy words with the fellow, as I understood, even
though my anger was so great that it would have soothed me somewhat to
give him a plain statement of the position he occupied in Virginia; but
I held my peace as I threw myself down by the side of little Frenchie,
counting that the lad would chide me for having had speech with Abel
Hunt. Instead of so doing he remained silent, his head pillowed on his
arm as he looked across the river toward the twinkling lights on
Gloucester Point where a portion of Lord Cornwallis's army was encamped,
and straightway there came into my mind the thought that the dear lad
was striving to cook up some plan which might work to our advantage.

It is true that his last scheme had brought us into sore trouble; but
that was no proof he could not in the future, as he had in the past,
contrive something to our benefit. I made no attempt to enter into
conversation with him; but was content to lie there watching.

Abel Hunt stood shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, half a
dozen paces distant, as if deliberating whether he would have further
speech with me on the subject of breeding, and I fancied, perhaps
because I hoped it mi