One often receives certain impressions without in the least knowing by what means they are conveyed--some peculiar trick of tone or manner teaching a lesson the lips refrain from expressing. Some such influence now, unconsciously exerted possibly, made me feel that my companion preferred to remain silent; that I could best prove my respect for her by quietly accepting her guidance without attempting converse. We walked slowly so as not to attract attention, as it was impossible to say that we were unobserved. Once she slipped upon a stone and I caught her, but neither spoke. Then there came the sudden clatter of hoofs on the rocky road behind us. I drew her swiftly aside within the protecting shadow of a tree, while a mounted officer rode by us at a slashing gait, his cavalry cape pulled high over his head, and the iron shoes of his horse striking fire from the flinty rocks. I could feel the heart of the girl beating wildly against my arm, but without exchanging so much as a word we crept back into the dark road and pressed on. A few hundred yards farther a fire burned redly against a pile of logs. The forms of several men lay outstretched beside it, while a sentry paced back and forth, in and out of the range of light. We were almost upon him before he noted our approach, and in his haste he swung his musket down from his shoulder until the point of its bayonet nearly touched my breast. “Halt!” he cried sternly, peering at us in evident surprise. “Halt! this road is closed.” “Valley Forge,” whispered the girl, and I noticed how white her face appeared in the flaming of the fire. “The word is all right, Miss,” returned the fellow, stoutly, yet without lowering his obstructing gun. “But we cannot pass any one out on the countersign alone. If you was going the other way it would answer.” “But we are returning from the officers' ball,” she urged anxiously, “and are on our way to Major Brennan's quarters. We have passes.” As she drew the paper from out her glove one of the men at the fire sprang to his feet and strode across the narrow road toward us. He was smooth of face and boyish looking, but wore corporal's stripes. “What is it, Mapes?” he asked sharply. Without waiting an answer he took the paper she held out and scanned it rapidly. “This is all right,” he said, handing it back, and lifting his cap in salute. “You may pass, madam. You must pardon us, but the orders are exceedingly strict to-night. Have you a pass also, Colonel?” I handed it to him, and after a single glance it was returned. “Pass them, guard,” he said curtly, standing aside, Beyond the radiance of the fire she broke the silence. “I shall only be able to go with you so far as the summit of the hill yonder, for our quarters are just to the right, and I could furnish no excuse for being found beyond that point,” she said. “Do you know enough of the country to make the lines of your army?”