As long as she dared she studied the soiled map, but, presently, a quick shadow fell across the threshold, and she thrust the map into the concealed pocket and sprang to open the door. "Coming military events cast foreboding shadows," she said, somewhat breathless. "Am I a foreboding and military event?" asked the youthful major, laughing. "What do I threaten, please?" "Single combat," she said demurely, smiling at him under half-veiled lids. And the same little thrill passed through him again, and the quick color rose to his smooth, sunburnt face. "I was ready to beat a retreat on sight," he said; "now I surrender." "I make no prisoners," she replied in airy disdain. "You give no quarter?" "None.... Why did you come back?" "You said I might." "Did I? I had quite forgotten what I had said to you. When are you going to let me go?" His face fell and he looked up at her, troubled. "I'm afraid you don't understand," he said. "We dare not send you away under escort now, because horses' feet make a noise, and some prowling Yankee vidette may be at this very moment hanging about the pass----" "Oh," she said, "you prefer to let me remain here and be shot?" He said, reddening: "At the first volley you are to go with an escort across the ridge. I told you that, didn't I?" But she remained scornful, mute and obstinate, pretty head bent, twisting the folds of her faded skirt. "Do you think I would let you remain here if there were any danger?" he asked in a lower voice. "How long am I to be kept here?" she asked pettishly. "Until the Yankees come through--and I can't tell you when that will be, because I don't know myself." "Are they in the pass?" "We don't know. Everybody is beginning to be worried. We can't see very far into that ravine----" "Then why don't you go where you _can_ see?" she said with a shrug. "Where?" he asked, surprised. "Didn't you know that there is a path above the pass?" "A path!" "Certainly. I can show you if you wish. You ought to be able to see to the north end of the pass--if I am not mistaken----" "Wait a moment!" he said excitedly. "I want you to take me there--just a second, to speak to those officers--I'm coming back immediately----" And he started on a run across the ravaged garden, holding his sabre close, midway, by the scabbard. That was her chance. Picking up her faded sunbonnet, she stepped from the threshold, swinging it carelessly by one string. The sentries were looking after the major; she dropped her sunbonnet, stooped to recover it, and straightened up, the hidden hand grenade slipping from the crown of the bonnet into her bodice between her breasts.