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 The tired boy and girl proceeded in silence, then, for the short distance to the tavern. It was just as Zenas, drawing rein before the dark, cheerless-looking building, was about to slip off from his horse, that a low, husky voice spoke from the shadows. "Halt, who goes there?"

Zenas stiffened, one foot still caught in the stirrup. "I, Zenas Williams," he answered tremulously.

"Advance, Zenas Williams, and gi' the password!"

Silence. Then Sally, from her horse, spoke impulsively: "Nay, we ha' no knowledge o' the password!" She shrank back as a tall figure approached her, musket over his shoulder.

"Who be ye, young mistress, and what be doing here i' this town?" asked the stranger sternly. "Know ye not the women have been ordered by Captain Camp to leave?"

"Aye."

"Then what do ye here?"

"That," said Sally in a stubborn voice, "I cannot tell ye until" Her sentence ended in a gasp, for all at once she found herself snatched from her horse and placed roughly upon her feet.

"Ye gi' me defiance, mistress?" growled the big man, who stood over her.

Sally threw back her shoulders and adjusted her disarranged gown which his uncouth jerking