“Follow me,” he said. “If I go too fast for you, let me know.” He cut into the woods and presently struck a path which led to the left, and for a while they followed this rapidly. Thanks to a fine physique and a vigorous life out-of-doors, the girl was in good condition, and though breathing hard upon the slopes, made no murmur. Hammersley knew that he had little time to spare, and Doris followed blindly, asking no questions. She was aware from what Cyril had said in the afternoon that his objective in coming to Germany was now within reach, and she could only judge of its importance to England by the desperate chances he had taken. When it was time that she should know he would tell her. She judged that Cyril knew that she had been tricked into betraying him, and she made up her mind that, whatever happened now, she would stay with him until the end. She owed him that. After a while, when they had been moving for perhaps twenty minutes, they reached an opening in the trees where she could see gray patches of sky through the branches overhead, and her feet emerging from the dry leaves and moss felt a firmer contact. “The Schöndorf road,” he said. “We can follow it side by side. Are you tired?” “No.” They went on more rapidly, while Hammersley explained: “The documents I came to Germany for are to be brought along this road tonight in an automobile. The hour they are due to reach Blaufelden is eleven, and if I know anything of the infallibility of the German secret messenger, they will be here on time. It is now after ten. I have an hour or less to make my preparations.” “What are you going to do?” she asked. “Get them. First, I’m going to take you to a spot where you will be as safe as if you were at home in Ashwater Park.” “No,” she said firmly, “I’m going with you.” “But that’s impossible. I don’t know what may happen. My plans are of the vaguest----” “I will share them. No, you sha’n’t refuse me. I will follow you. I can help. I must. I would die in those roads alone. Don’t you understand?” “But if I fail and they take you, you will be as guilty as I. It’s an act of war, Doris.” “Then all the more reason why I should be committed to it. They made war on me.” “But there will be danger. I can’t let you take the risk.” “I don’t know how you are going to stop me,” she said defiantly. He paused, then stopped and caught her by the elbows, peering down into her eyes. Then he laughed. “Mated!” he cried. “This is the greatest moment of my life.” “And mine,” her voice answered him. Her lips met his in a quick caress, like those the wives of the Spartans gave when they sent their men to battle.