“Well--ah--Valerie, then!” stammered the Professor, “would you mind conveying a message for us, or, to speak more accurately, I should say causing a message to be conveyed for us, since we would prefer--and you will no doubt know how to manage this--that such message should not come from either yourself or your father. Perhaps, I might suggest, you could so contrive as to enable us to send it by one of the sentinels outside this door?” The girl glanced at the Professor curiously. “What is the message?” she asked. “That we demand to see the person in command here--Colonel Henry, I believe.” “Oh! won’t father do?” “No, no; not at all! We want to see the one in chief command.” “Any complaint as to the cooking or the service?” asked the girl pertly. “Really, Miss----” “Valerie!” “You embarrass me.” “I love to do that!” “But you will grant what we ask?” “I’ll see about it and let you know to-morrow,” she replied, as she started for the door. The following morning at breakfast they again questioned her. She had not yet had an opportunity to attend to the matter. At mid-day the same answer, but a promise that they should have word at the next meal. The next meal came and with it Valerie. The captives felt their hearts sink at her first words. Colonel Henry would not see them. “What was it he said when our message was given him?” asked Mortimer, “and by whom was it given?” Valerie hesitated in a manner very unusual to her before replying. Then she broke out impetuously: “He did not say anything, because the message wasn’t carried. It would have been useless. Papa tells me that the High President gave imperative orders that Colonel Henry was not to deal in any way with you. You are held subject to the orders of the High President himself.” “Why didn’t you send the message anyhow?” demanded Mortimer, a bit impatiently. “Colonel Henry might decide to see us--you can’t tell. You don’t realize how important it is that we see him.” She did not answer these reproaches for some moments. Then suddenly she turned upon Mortimer. “Even if the High President hadn’t given such orders, do you think I would bring you and ‘Black Hawk’ Henry face to face after what has happened? Colonel Henry is furious. You throttled him before his men and on top of that he was severely reprimanded by the High President for his treatment of prisoners.” “How about the insult to me--the cause of it all?” Mortimer asked. “I don’t know anything about that,” she answered, “but I’m not so foolish as to bring burning oil and gunpowder together! Won’t father do as well?” she asked in conclusion. “No!” Mortimer hastened to answer. “Will anybody else?” “Oh, yes; anybody else will do, if he doesn’t come direct from Captain Robert,” Mortimer assured her. “I don’t see how it can be managed,” she said. For a moment they were both in despair. Then Mortimer spoke up.