"
"A captain does not go alone; it should be the sergeant who is
sent--yes?"
"It is not an affair of war, Oscar, but quite another matter. There is a
saddled horse hitched to the other side of our abandoned bridge. Get it
and ride it to Judge Claiborne's stables; and ask and answer no
questions."
A moment later he was riding toward the gate, the led-horse following.
He flung himself down, adjusting the stirrups and gave her a hand into
the saddle. They turned silently into the mountain road.
"The bridge would have been simpler and quicker," said Shirley; "as it
is, I shall be late to the ball."
"I am contrite enough; but you don't make explanations."
"No; I don't explain; and you are to come back as soon as we strike the
valley. I always send gentlemen back at that point," she laughed, and
went ahead of him into the narrow road. She guided the strange horse with
the ease of long practice, skilfully testing his paces, and when they
came to a stretch of smooth road sent him flying at a gallop over the
trail. He had given her his own horse, a hunter of famous strain, and she
at once defined and maintained a distance between them that made talk
impossible.
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