“Why, he wasn’t bigger than one of my legs!” “Don’t sneer at his size, you coarse brute! He had more spirit than all your cut-throat, chicken-stealing tribe put together. You huge brutes, if you have any soul at all, have it diluted with too much body to make it worth anything!” cried Elfie, with hot scorn. “Oh, come, now. Don’t be vindictive. If I did knock the little fellow on the head, I promised you a bigger sweetheart, and you’ve got him,” chuckled the guerilla. “Mutchison, let this cease. I desire that Miss Fielding may be treated with all the consideration possible under the circumstances,” said Colonel Goldsborough, sternly. “Oh, that’s it, is it? Then I must order myself accordingly,” muttered the guerrilla to himself, but he raised his hat to his colonel in token of obedience. They rode on silently through the woods a little while longer, and then Goldsborough said: “We bivouac with the ‘Free Sword’ to-night, and to-morrow, if the road should be clear, go on to our rendezvous at the Black Bear’s Pass. I think that we are not very far from Corsoni’s encampment now, are we?” “It is in a clearing in this forest somewhere, and I think that this path leads to it, Colonel. We shall see in a little while,” answered Mutchison. “So we stop with the Free Sword, do we, to-night? And we shall see Alberta! And if we do—” exclaimed Elfie, setting her teeth and drawing in her breath. “You’ll tear her eyes out if we leave your hands free,” laughed the huge guerrilla. “Mutchison!” exclaimed Colonel Goldsborough. “I beg your pardon, Colonel. I will say no more,” replied the man. And they pursued their way in silence, until the forest grew thinner, and they seemed to be approaching a clearing. “I see lights gleaming through the distance. Can they be the campfires of the Free Sword?” inquired Goldsborough. “Yes, Colonel, I think so,” answered Mutchison, as they emerged from the thicket into a small, open space. The next moment they came upon a picket guard, and were challenged. “Who goes there?” “Friends!” answered the colonel. “Advance, friends, and give the countersign.” “I don’t know your countersign, but you know me well enough, Robinson. I am Colonel Goldsborough.” “Very sorry, Colonel, but I can’t let you pass without the countersign.” “I am on a visit to your chief, in answer to his repeated invitations.” “Very sorry, Colonel, but it is as much as my life is worth to let you pass.” “Call the corporal of the guard, then, blame you.” The word was passed for the corporal of the guard, who presently appeared upon the scene. “Here is Colonel Goldsborough wants to pass and doesn’t know the countersign,” explained the picket. “You know me well enough, Jenkins,” said Goldsborough, addressing the petty officer. “Yes, sir but I dare not pass you without my colonel’s orders, though. If you will wait, I will send a messenger up to his quarters,” said the corporal.