I thought it best to make no disguise of these matters. “That looks suspicious,” he said, his hawk face brightening at the thought of hidden things to be found. “They might do us harm if they could,” I said, “but they have not the power. Our lines surround the house; no one save ourselves can go to them, nor can they go to any one.” “Still, I would like to go through the house,” he said, some doubt yet showing in his tone. “I have searched it twice and found nothing,” I said indifferently. He let the matter drop for the time and busied himself with an examination of the ground; but I knew he was most likely to take it up again, for he could not suppress his prying nature. I would have been glad to give warning to Kate, but I could think of no way to do it. “Who is the best man that you have here?” he asked presently. “Whitestone--Sergeant Whitestone,” I replied, glad to place the sergeant in his confidence, for it might turn out to my advantage. “There is none more vigilant, and you can depend upon all that he says.” We separated there, our work taking us in different directions. When we returned to the valley, which we had made a kind of headquarters, I heard him asking Whitestone about the Van Aukens. “Tartars, both of ’em,” said the good sergeant; “if you go in there, leftenant, they’ll scold you till they take your face off.” The look on Belt’s face was proof that not even Whitestone’s warning would deter him. At least it so seemed to me. In a half hour I found that I had judged aright. He told me he was not in a state of satisfaction about the house, and since the responsibility for it lay with him he proposed to make a search of it in person. He requested me to go with him. “This seems to be the main entrance,” he said, leading the way to the portico, which faced the north, and looking about with very inquiring eyes. “Madame Van Auken and her daughter must be much frightened by the presence of troops, for I have not yet seen the face of either at door or window.” He knocked loudly at the door with the hilt of his sword, and Kate appeared, very calm as usual. I made the introductions as politely as I was able. “Lieutenant Belt is my senior, Miss Van Auken,” I said, “and therefore has superseded me in command of the guard at this point.” “Then I trust that Lieutenant Belt will relax some of the rigors of the watch,” she said, “and not subject us to the great discomfort of repeated searches of our house.” She turned her shoulder to me as if she would treat me with the greatest coldness. I understood her procedure, and marveled much at her presence of mind. It seemed to be successful too, for Belt smiled, and looked ironically at me, like one who rejoices in the mishap of his comrade.