“Oh, come, now. Don’t be vindictive. If I did knock the little fellow on the head, I promised you a bigger sweetheart, and you’ve got him,” chuckled the guerilla.
“Mutchison, let this cease. I desire that Miss Fielding may be treated with all the consideration possible under the circumstances,” said Colonel Goldsborough, sternly.
“Oh, that’s it, is it? Then I must order myself accordingly,” muttered the guerrilla to himself, but he raised his hat to his colonel in token of obedience.
They rode on silently through the woods a little while longer, and then Goldsborough said:
“We bivouac with the ‘Free Sword’ to-night, and to-morrow, if the road should be clear, go on to our rendezvous at the Black Bear’s Pass. I think that we are not very far from Corsoni’s encampment now, are we?”
“It is in a clearing in this forest somewhere, and I think that this path leads to it, Colonel. We shall see in a little while,” answered Mutchison.
“So we stop with the Free Sword, do we, to-night? And we shall see Alberta! And if we do—” exclaimed Elfie, setting her teeth and drawing in her breath.
“You’ll tear her eyes out if we leave your hands free,” laughed the huge guerrilla.
“Mutchison!” exclaimed Colonel Goldsborough.
“I beg your pardon, Colonel. I will say no more,” replied the man.