Again, the sound of the trample of many horses. "Ah!" cried Peyton, joyfully. "My men returning!" He rose to go to the door, but his wounded leg gave way, and he staggered to the staircase, and leaned against the balustrade. Elizabeth's look of gratification faded. She ran to the door, fastened it with bolt and key, and stood with her back against it. The sound, first distant as if in the Mile Square road, was now manifestly in the highway. Would it come southward, towards the house, or go northward, decreasing? "They are my men!" cried Peyton to Cuff. "Call them! They'll pass without knowing I am here. Call them, I say! Quick! They'll be out of hearing." "Silence!" said Elizabeth to Cuff, in a low tone, and stood listening. Peyton made another attempt to move, but realized his inability. 'Twas all he could do to support himself against the balustrade. "My God, they've gone by!" he cried. "They'll return to our lines, leaving me behind." And he shouted, "Carrington!" The voice rang for a moment in the remoteness of the hall above. Then complete silence within. All in the hall remained motionless, listening. The sound of the horses came fainter and fainter. "Carrington! Help! I'm in the manor-house,--a prisoner!" A look of despair came over his face. On Elizabeth's the suspense gave way to a smile of triumph. The sound of the horses died away. CHAPTER VI. THE ONE CHANCE. Peyton staggered back to the settle and sank down on it, exhausted. Elizabeth, hearing black Sam moving about in the dining-room, which was directly north of the hall, bade Molly summon him. When he appeared, she ordered him and Cuff to carry the settle, with the wounded man on it, into the east parlor, and to place the man on the sofa there. She then told Molly to hasten the supper, and to send Williams to her up-stairs, and thereupon rejoined her excited aunt above. When Williams attended her, she gave him commands regarding the prisoner.