The walls were built of stakes driven into the ground, with cedar boughs woven thickly between them; and the roof was made of sticks laid across the top, with cedar boughs piled and pressed down on them. The flooring, which was also the bedding, was made of dry leaves, with a large, clean camp blanket laid over them. The door was just a simple opening left large enough for a woman to go in and out, and before it hung a small, clean piece of a camp blanket, fastened with wooden pins to the roof. Beside this door stood Abershaw, another of Alberta’s devoted followers, and at his feet lay a large bundle wrapped in a McIntosh water-proof covering. “I was the last to leave the encampment, Madam. I lingered behind, with the colonel’s leave, to load two mules with the camp furniture of your room. Here is a part of it,” he said, stooping and beginning to open the bundle. “And so you ran the risk of capture for the sake of securing these comforts for me, Abershaw?” said the colonel’s wife, with some emotion. “Danger and duty seems to be the same thing in our wild life, Madam; and I am only too glad to meet the one and brave the other in your services,” said this gallant guerrilla, lifting his hat. “Warmest thanks, Abershaw. But the colonel will know better than I do how to return such kindness.” Again the man lifted his hat, and then, pointing to the opposite side of the area, he said: “The supper is nearly ready at the fire over there, Madam. Will you and the young lady join the colonel and his guest there, or will you have your tea brought here?” “We will join the colonel’s party, Abershaw,” said Corsoni’s wife. “Alberta, you will do as you please; but as for me, I will starve sooner than break bread in Albert Goldsborough’s detestable company!” indignantly exclaimed Elfie. Abershaw turned with an involuntary gaze of amazement at the enraged girl; for he, like most of the men, naturally supposed the young lady to be the willing companion of her lover’s flight. But Alberta calmly replied: “Very well, Abershaw. You hear what Miss Fielding says. Bring our suppers here.” The man bowed and turned away. “I am sorry if I have disconcerted you, Alberta; but if my life depended on my doing so, I could not eat and drink with that dastardly kidnapper!” said Elfie. “It does not matter much to me, dear. Let’s drop the subject for the present. We will speak of it presently,” said Alberta, who was stooping over and examining the contents of the bundle that Abershaw had brought. It proved to contain a supply of pillows, clean sheets and blankets, from Alberta’s press in the old plantation house. “How kind and thoughtful of that man! How truly bound he is to the colonel and myself!” murmured Alberta. “He seems to be a very superior person, that Abershaw. Very superior to his condition, I mean,” said Elfie. “There are several such among the devoted followers of the Free Sword,” proudly answered Alberta.