As they came nearer the younger man staggered fearfully, and Jean knew that he was intoxicated. A feeling, half fear and half loathing, took possession of her as these two ill-visaged privates came nearer; but supposing they would pass, she kept her seat. "Take-a-hic-your pipe-a-hic-out, in-a-hic-the presence of-a-hic-ladies," the man in the long cloak said. The thick-set man took his pipe from his teeth and knocked the ashes out against the palm of his hand. They were directly in front of Jean now. The man in the long cloak made a tottering bow and addressed her. "May a-hic we sit down?" "Certainly," said Jean, the blood rushing to her face at their boldness, and she hurriedly started to her feet. "Keep-a-hic-your seat and-a-hic-don't get agitated; we're-a-hic-gentle-mench." The thick-set man had already seated himself, and the other man followed his example, forcing Jean to a place by his side. Judging the thick-set man to be the least intoxicated and more decent, she appealed to him for protection. The lower part only of his face was visible, but she saw that he laughed. "He don't mean no harm. Keep still and he'll go on about his business," he assured her. Jean's face blazed and her heart beat with the force of four. The tall man emptied his mouth of tobacco juice and other fluids and substances, and the sickening mixture fell so close to Jean's foot that her boot was spattered. Then he wiped the dribbles on the back of his hand and turned to her. He bent so close that his hot, foul breath struck her with staggering force and his bloated face almost touched her cheek. "You're-a-hic-a little peach," he said, with a leer, "and-a-hic-I'm-a-hic-a going to k-k-kiss you." It was then Jean screamed with all her might, and at the same moment a man sprang to her rescue from a light buggy that had rounded the bend of the drive unobserved. The thick-set man suddenly disappeared, but the other soldier, either too drunk for rapid movement or too muddled to understand the gravity of the situation, only rose to his feet and stood leering at Jean with disgusting admiration. The next instant he was felled to the earth and a broad-shouldered man stood over him ready to render a second blow if occasion demanded. The soldier made an attempt to rise. "Lie there, you brute," the man cried, hotly, and the drunken fellow obeyed. "Nice-a-hic-way to treat a-hic-man that's protecting-a-hic-the-a-hic-honor-a-hic, the honor of----" he muttered. But the gentleman turned to the woman, and Jean, trembling with fear and indignation, with crimson cheeks and flashing eyes, looked a second time into the face of the gentlemanly liquor dealer. "I am so glad you came!" she gasped, and held out her hand to him. As they turned to his buggy the gentleman cast a glance back at the prostrate soldier, who had crawled behind a bush to sleep until removed to the guardhouse.