The Lieutenant's disposition had undergone outward improvement of late. By common consent he and Katherine had started afresh, making no reference to past disagreements, and he had wisely ceased to question her motives or her actions. He let her understand that she might do as she pleased in all things, and, naturally, she was not willing to take undue advantage of her tacit freedom. Still, the old happiness and confidence were gone. * * * * * Forsyth had the second watch that night and was sitting on the piazza, listening for the warning guns of the pickets on the lookout for the enemy, when Ronald came across the river. "Thought you were here," he said, "so I came over, as I couldn't sleep." "I'm glad you did," returned Robert. "It gets pretty lonely out here about three o'clock in the morning." "Are you sleepy?" "Not a bit." "Who comes on next, and when?" "Chan's watch begins at three--it isn't far from that now." "Call him up, then, and let's go out awhile. I can't sit still." "All right." When the half-breed, muttering sleepily, was finally stationed on the piazza, with instructions to listen for the guns, they walked out to the river. "Which way?" asked Robert. "Either--I don't care." The moon was shining brightly and the earth was exquisitely still. The Fort, transfigured by its mantle of silver sheen, might have been some moss-grown feudal castle, with a gleaming river at its gate. Ronald walked rapidly, and his breath came in quick, short jerks. "What's gone wrong with you?" asked Forsyth, kindly. "I don't know how to put it," said the soldier, after a long silence, "for I never was good at words; but,--well, you like Beatrice pretty well, don't you?" "Yes, don't you?" "She's my heart's desire," said Ronald, thickly. They were in the forest now, where the tall trees stood like the pillars of a cathedral, and the moonlight, softened by the overhanging branches, fell full upon Robert's face, white to the lips with pain. "Old man," said Ronald, huskily, "one of us is going to get hurt." "Yes," returned Forsyth, dully, "I suppose so--we can't both have her." "Perhaps neither of us can, but--well, whatever happens--say, it isn't going to interfere with our friendship, is it?" "No!" cried Forsyth; "a thousand times, no!" Ronald wrung the other's hand in a fierce grasp and choked down a lump in his throat. "She's too good for me," he muttered; "I know that as well as anybody, but, on my soul, I can't give her up!" "She's for the man she loves," said Forsyth, "and for no other. She wouldn't marry a king if she didn't love him." "Well," sighed Ronald, "so be it. May the best man win!"