"Say no more, sir," exclaimed Colonel Dayton. "That you did come back proves you an honorable gentleman. I might have had to mourn a prisoner, but once more hath martial faith received justification. It will give me great pleasure to report your conduct to the commander-in-chief." Much relieved that the matter was to be probed no further the cousins dismounted, and were preparing to retire to their respective domiciles when the voice of Colonel Dayton arrested them. "I wonder," he was saying, "if this doth not explain the letter that I received to-day from General Washington?" "What letter, sir?" asked Clifford quickly. "May I inquire if it contained any further orders regarding me?" "Certainly; and I am obliged to answer that it does contain orders. Listen, and you shall hear them, though it gives me great pain to read them. They mean a curtailment of your privileges, captain." Whereupon he produced the missive, and read as follows: "Sir, I am informed that Captain Williams is at the camp without a guard, and under no restraint whatever. This, if true, is certainly wrong; I wish to have the young gentleman treated with all possible tenderness consistent with his present situation, but considered a close prisoner and kept with the greatest security. It is well to be careful. There are many rumors afloat anent a rescue, which may be but idle talk. Still, when dealing with a foe every precaution should be used that there is no weakness in our defenses of which he may take advantage." "So end our rides, Peggy," remarked Clifford, smiling slightly. "'Tis a preliminary to the final order." "I trust not, captain," exclaimed the officer. "This merely limits you to the confines of the cantonment. I should not like the general to consider that I was negligent. It would have been the same, sir, had not your misadventure of to-day occurred." "I understand, colonel," answered the youth deferentially. "I appreciate the courtesy you have ever shown me. I think, on the whole, 'tis best. And it might be worse." "Yes," spoke Peggy. "It might be worse, Clifford." So there were no more rides; but as the weather began to be very hot, and exceedingly dry, they consoled themselves with the reflection that riding would be extremely unpleasant under such conditions. Another week glided by, in which there was no sign of Harriet, nor was there any further order from the commander-in-chief. It seemed as though they had been set down in the midst of the cantonment and forgotten. The strain began to tell upon Clifford. "Would that it were over," burst from him one morning as he sat with Peggy under the shade of a tree near the quarters of the Dayton family. In the distance a company was drilling, and the orders of its officer came to them faintly. Peggy let fall the ox-eyed daisy whose petals she had been counting, and turned toward him in dismay. "Clifford, thee don't mean that," she cried.