"You put it truthfully; I will only say that in the darkness I hope to be taken for one of them."
"And if you are?"
"I will work my way beyond the lines, and then make for the camp of the stockmen."
"On foot or horseback?"
"I can hardly expect to obtain a horse, but let me once gain the chance, and I will show some sprinting."
"You ignore the services of Miss Whitney?"
"It was a brave and characteristic deed, but a woman acts from intuition rather than reason. There is not a shadow of hope that she will accomplish anything."
"In my judgment, the prospect is as favourable for her as for you."
"Well," replied Sterry, "I rather expected you to talk that way, so your condemnation is discounted. I intend to pass out of the rear door within the next three minutes; I wish you to hold it, ready to open in the event of my deciding on a hasty return. If such return does not follow in the course of a quarter of an hour, you may conclude that I won't be back."
"I have already concluded that," was the significant comment.