EIO{2}W{2} x I{8}W{3} {triangle} NI{7}W{3} x OII{6}I{5}W{3} x ENI{7}I{7}I{4}I{8}I{5}O{2} N x I{7}IE x I{4}O{2}I{2} x N x HI{5} x IO{2}E x N x O x E x WNW{3} x W x I{8}E{3}XHN {crescent} x L x I{3} O{2}XW{3}I{5}W{3}NW{2} x I{4}I{2} x I{8}W{3}I{7}I{4}LI x NW{3}x I{5}O{2}HI x O{2}I{4}EI{3}W{3} x HNI{7}I{7} {circle+} W{2} "We translate it freely thus, and I'll underline only the words in the cipher: Gen'l Stuart (Sandy River?) (The present) Depot Garrison (of Osage Court House is) One Reg(iment) (of) Inf(antry) One Co(mpany of) Eng(ineers) One Four G(un) Bat(tery) Two Sq(uadrons) (of) Cav(alry) Eleven Hun(dred men) Total If (you) strike (strike) at once (and at) night! (Signed) Carryl. "Do you see, Colonel, how very simple it is, after all?" The Colonel, red and astounded, hung over the paper, laboriously verifying the cipher and checking off each symbol with its alphabetical equivalent. "What's that mark?" he demanded; "this symbol----" "It stands for the letter U, sir." "How do you know?" The Messenger, seated sideways on the camp table, one small foot swinging, looked down and bit her lip. "Must I tell you?" "As you please. And I'll say now that your solving this intricate and devilish cipher is, to me, a more utterly amazing performance than the rebel use of bees as messengers." She shook her head slowly. "It need not amaze you.... I was born in Sandy River.... And in happier times--when my parents were living--I spent the school vacations there.... We had always kept bees.... There was--in those days--a boy. We were very young and--romantic. We exchanged vows--and bees--and messages in cipher.... I knew this cipher as soon as I saw it. I invented it--long ago--for him and me." "W-well," stammered the bewildered Colonel, "I don't see how----" "I do, sir. Our girl and boy romance was a summer dream. One day he dreamed truer. So did the beautiful Miss Carryl.... And the pretty game I invented for him he taught in turn to his fiancee.... Well, he died in The Valley.... And I have just given his fiancee her passport. It would be very kind of you to station a guard at the Carryl place for its protection. Would you mind giving the order, sir?... _He_ is buried there." The Colonel, hands clasped behind him, walked to the tent door. "Yes," he said, "I'll give the order." A few moments later the drums of the Bucktails began beating the assembly. VII THE PASS Her map, which at headquarters was supposed to be reliable, had grossly misled her; the road bore east instead of north, dwindling, as she advanced, to a rocky path among the foothills. She had taken the wrong turn at the forks; there was nothing to direct her any farther--no landmarks except the general trend of the watercourse, and the dull cinders of sunset fading to ashes in the west.