Page:Randall Parrish - The Red Mist.djvu/268

 250 "Yes, sir," yet with a lingering doubt in his voice. "No doubt it is all right, sir; but the orders are very strict tonight. If you have not the word I shall have to call the sergeant."

"Quite right, my man; but that is not necessary," and I took a step nearer and bent my head. "Kanawah."

The two men shouldered their muskets, and the older one brought his hand up in salute.

"Pass, sir," he said soberly, and stood aside. We went down the broad steps, dimly lighted by a distant fire, my hand touching her arm. At the foot a slight pressure served to guide me to the left, and we passed into the deeper shadow of the building without exchanging a word. The infantry camp lay between us and the road, while, on the side of the building where we were, were parked the empty wagons of a forage train. Teamsters, no doubt, were asleep beneath the covers, but there were no guards visible close to where we halted in the darkness. The campfire in front yielded just enough light to enable me to study out our surroundings. The band still played noisily in the courtroom above, the gay lilt of the dance music floating out through open windows. The hour must be nearly midnight, however, and the merrymaking would soon be ended. The camp was quiet, the soldiers apparently