About midday, excitement was caused among the besieged by the appearance of a flag of truce. A man rode over the ridge, down which the cattlemen had come in such haste, holding a white handkerchief fluttering over his head. His horse walked slowly and the rider kept his gaze on the front of the house, as though in doubt of the reception awaiting him. A hundred feet away he came to a halt, still flourishing the peace signal above his hat. Capt. Asbury was the first to discover the messenger and hurriedly arranged for the interview. "Inasmuch as that fellow is neither Inman, Cadmus, nor anyone of the leaders, it is not the thing for me to meet him." "You have recognized him?" was the inquiring remark of Hawkridge, glancing with a smile at the officer. "No. Who is he?" "Duke Vesey, who does not feel particularly amiable toward you." "I will meet him," volunteered Monteith Sterry. The captain shook his head. "While that fellow is friendly to you, perhaps, others of the company are very resentful; it isn't best to tempt them. Hawkridge, you are the best one to act." "Very well; I will do so." The horseman had come to a stop and was gazing fixedly at the building, as if waiting for a response to his advance. Jennie Whitney descended the stairs at this moment. "I think I see Fred coming," she said, with some agitation; "will they do him any harm?" "No," replied Sterry, "they have nothing against him." "But the other day--" she ventured, doubtfully. "Was a scrimmage, likely to take place at any time; that is ended, but they will probably hold him prisoner." During this brief conversation a brisk search was going on among the three men for a white pocket-handkerchief. None of them possessed such an article, the hue in each case being different. Hawkridge appealed to Miss Whitney, and she produced a linen handkerchief of snowy whiteness. "Just the thing," he said, drawing back the door sufficiently to allow him to pass out. "I don't think I will be detained long. It is understood," he added, turning to the captain, "that we don't consider the question of surrender under any terms." "It will be better to report, and then decide what to do." Hawkridge bowed and passed out. He waved the spotless linen in front of his face as he walked toward the horseman, and both smiled when they recognized each other. "Well, Duke, what is it?" asked the footman, as though he were asking an ordinary question of a friend. "I reckon you can guess. Since the two companies came together Ira Inman is at the head of the army. Some of the boys are wild to begin shooting, and they'll do it pretty soon. Before that, Inman decided to offer you folks a chance to give in. That's my business." "You simply demand our surrender, as I understand it?" "You've guessed it the first time," replied Vesey, with a nod of his head. "What terms do you offer?"