Suddenly a white figure stood before the window and his whistle rang through the still night. Stella sprang to her feet gasping, with horror: “My God! they’ve come: I must save you! Hide! Hide and give me your revolver--they shall not take you--quick--quick--hide!” “But, my dear, there’s not the slightest danger. No man who wears that uniform will lift his hand against me--see, I’m going to answer his call with my own signal.” He lifted the whistle to his lips and she snatched it from his grasp. “Don’t! Don’t for God’s sake, don’t! you don’t understand--Oh!--John--darling--I love you! I love you!” She threw herself into his arms and kissed him, passionately sobbing. “I’ve tried to hate you, dear, but I couldn’t--I couldn’t--I know now I’ve loved you always! I must save you, God help me!” “Well, sir?” called a voice without. “It’s all right! Come in, boys!” he answered before Stella could stop him. She huddled in his arms paralysed for the moment with terror. “You must not!--they will kill you, dear!” she moaned in agony. “Nonsense, child, the boys have only a little surprise for us.” Their feet were already echoing in the corridor and their voices could be heard in whispers and low laughter. “Hide! please, for the love of God!” she gasped. With sudden fierce strength she pressed him into the shadows and stood panting before him, while the silent ghost-like figures ranged themselves solemnly around the room. “Stella, my dear, you must not suffer like this--there is no danger, these are all my men.” “Your men!--your men!” she cried, bewildered. “Yes, I brought them here to-night in full costume to make a little play complete for the fancy of a queen!” “My darling,” she sobbed, sinking in his arms. “We unexpectedly met some ugly customers from the hills we had seen once before. A little pitched battle delayed us thirty minutes, but none of our boys were hurt.” “Kiss me!” she whispered. A distant whistle rang through the woods and the picket outside answered. “What’s that?” Stella gasped. “He blew the signal, ‘message for the Chief’; he’s from town, I’m afraid,” John answered. A horse’s hoof echoed on the flagstones before the columns, and in a moment the picket rushed to the window. “Bad news, sir!” “What is it?” John asked quietly: “A regiment of United States cavalry slipped into town just after dark.” “I’ve been looking for it,” John broke in. “Well?” “A squadron has surrounded Mrs. Wilson’s boarding house to wait for you.” “Merciful God! what have I done!” Stella sobbed inaudibly. John touched her hand soothingly at the sound of her sob, bent low and whispered tenderly: “It’s all right--dearest--you love me!” BOOK III--PRISONER AND TRAITOR CHAPTER I--THE ARREST THE news of the arrival of the regiment of cavalry, and the swift silent way in which they had struck their first blow, brought to John Graham at once a sharp realisation of the danger of his men.