As we slipped out of the lines of camp I saw a thing that touched me. Moriarty had stopped at the long, slim, blue-barreled rapid fire and for a moment, lingering over it, one arm around it, he laid his cheek against its lips. It was Moriarty’s farewell kiss to the only bride he had ever known. *CHAPTER VII* *THE JURAMENTADOS* There was a mistiness among the mango trees as we went out into the moonlight. It was a mist from the ocean, but it made an uncanny milkiness in the air, which seemed to cling to the long dew-damp leaves of the tropic trees as we descended into the Labanyon Valley; and that queer uncanniness stayed with me. I could not throw it off. At the picket line I left a note to be carried back with the relief. It was to my First Lieutenant, explaining my absence and stating that, if I were not back by daylight, he was to assume the command. And if, before daylight, he heard any continual rapid fire, he was to send the company to the sound of it, for it would mean that we needed help. The picket would be relieved at midnight. I asked him not to awaken Lieutenant Clarke until then. "Captain," said the picket, touching his cap, "excuse me, but if you weren’t here I’d arrest Moriarty and Davis and send them back into camp. ’Tis a fool thing they are doing." "But what about our comrades out there, cut off, doubtless, and surrounded by these savages?" "Then why not take a company?" he asked respectfully. "They’d be butchered," said Moriarty. "It’s the three of us slippin’ around an’ nosin’ in that can save ’em if we find ’em. And with these rifles and six Colts we’ll be all of a company for arrows and bolos." "Look," said the sentinel, "do you see that?" He pointed to a dim red star, glowing just above the mountain top. "That’s a signal fire—and that, and that. Captain," he pleaded earnestly, "go back and let the boys all go with you. It’s a fool thing, but if you will go—now listen—when I hear you shoot, if shooting is on, I am going to fire and waken the camp; the boys will want to come to your relief." Moriarty laughed. "Now don’t let your old gun go off too suddent loike. We’ll be back without firin’ a shot!" But I, Eloise, as I went down into that valley, became for a moment all but a weakling when I thought of you! We went quietly out into the moonlight, slipping along from the shadow of one great mango to another. Sometimes these trees made a continuous shadow—so thick they were—and our going was easy. But when we emerged into a moonlit space we stooped and crawled through the high grass, for we were an easy target for their sharpshooters on the peaks above. We were fully a mile from camp before we crossed a _crevasse_, about twelve feet wide, spanned by a culvert or small bridge. I remember noticing the little bridge and thinking that if it should be burnt by the enemy in our rear, we would never be likely to get back into our camp again.