“My man? Hiven be praised! But I'll knock ther head off ther little divil if ever I git my hand on him, I will thet. Whar's ther little imp bin all ther time?” “Hunting for you, and crying his eyes out,” I answered, smiling to myself in the darkness. “Where is Mrs. Brennan?” “Jist beyond me, thar in ther corner.” As she spoke a bullet whizzed past us, having missed the obstruction of the piano. I could feel the wind stirred by its passage, while its peculiar hum told me it was a Minié ball. “You are too far out from the wall,” I protested. “You are in range.” “Can't help it if I be. I 'm yere ter take ther guns from ther sojer, an' pass 'em back.” I crept slowly along beyond her, keeping close to the wall, but had progressed hardly more than a couple of yards, when I felt a hand lightly touch me. “I recognize your voice,” said a soft whisper, “and am so glad you are here.” Who can guess the motives that inspire a woman? This was my welcome, where I had anticipated coldness and repellant pride. CHAPTER XXXI A CONVERSATION IN THE DARK In my extreme surprise at the intimate cordiality expressed by her words and manner I failed in utterance. Anticipating coldness, indifference, possibly even resentment at my presuming to approach her, I was instead greeted by an unstudied warmth of welcome that made my heart beat fiercely. “Surely I am not mistaken,” she questioned, rendered doubtful by my silence. “Is not this Captain Wayne?” “There is no mistake,” I hastened to assure her, “but I had anticipated from our last meeting a far less cordial greeting.” “Oh,” she exclaimed, with a light laugh, “and is that all? Yet surely, if I was to believe my own eyes I was perfectly justified in my actions then. However, Captain, I have been forced to realize the truth of that situation, and am now disposed to make up to you in kindness for all my unjust suspicions.” “I am more than delighted to learn that cloud is no longer to overshadow us. Miss Minor has made a full explanation, then?” “You have been completely exonerated, and restored to my good graces.” As she spoke, I became aware that she was busily engaged upon some task, and when she ended I felt the steel of a gun-barrel touch my hand. “Please pass this to Maria,” she said calmly, “and hand me back the one she has.” “You are loading, then?” I asked, as I complied with her request. “We have all been busy. Isn't it terrible? I was so frightened at first, but now they tell me that you and your men have come, there is no longer danger of those horrible creatures getting in here.” “You knew, then, that I was in the house?” “I was told some noble Confederates had accompanied Lieutenant Caton back to aid us, but your name was not mentioned.” “Then my appearance must have proven a complete surprise?”