"Not at all, sir. Not at all. I have had Dr. McGuire bleed me twice as much in the last month. I do feel a slight twitching of the bones and a sort of dead feeling in the nerves, but besides a few pains shooting in and out, I'm all right. Then there is Pendleton's tavern at the cross-roads a mile beyond the bend, and you remember the old rake keeps good bottled stuff. No fear, I'll be all right. But I will take a small drink with you, Barron and Byrd, just to show there's no hard feeling." Harrison had begun to show signs of returning consciousness, so Barron and Will left his side and came forward a pace or two. The flask was passed around and then, in spite of Barron's protests to the contrary, the Major insisted on carrying out his plans as he had already intended. He buckled on his sword belt and mounted his powerful mare, while Snake plunged into the bushes and reappeared a moment later mounted and ready to follow his master. His black face was showing in marked contrast to the white gleam of his huge mouthful of teeth, and it was evident that he had viewed the fight from some unseen point on the river shore and was well pleased with the result. We raised Harrison and carried him in the direction of the Hall. In a few minutes he revived and looked about him for the Major. Not seeing him, he insisted on walking the remaining distance to the house on foot and we finally allowed him to attempt it. Just as we crossed the road, opposite the driveway, I saw Snake in the distance turn sharply in his saddle as we came into view. Then, through the dust cloud that almost instantly swallowed him up, I noticed his head bend outwards and his white cap rise and fall in an ungraceful bow. CHAPTER III The second day after this meeting we were at breakfast, sitting somewhat stiffly at the table, when my boy Sam, whom Mary had just sent over to Harrison's to find out how he did, brought a note in answer, saying that he had almost entirely recovered and hoped to have the pleasure of meeting her that morning. Barron and Will were still staying at the Hall and we had all been somewhat reserved in manner in spite of the old Captain's jests. Although there had been no serious outcome to the affair, a meeting of that kind, no matter how common the occurrence, always makes women a little distant and cold in manner to the parties concerned. This is possibly because a woman is somewhat more civilized than man, and anything that savors of brutality or fierceness, always is more revolting to her than to the less artificial being.