While he was considering some fit excuse with which to tear himself away from his interesting companion,—for it was not prudent to inform an avowed rebel lady that he had been engaged in collecting information for the use of a Union general, and must return to report the result of his mission,—while he was thinking what he should say to her, he heard something which sounded marvellously like the tramp of horses’ feet on the walks which surrounded the mansion. These sounds might have been sufficient to create a tempest of alarm in his mind if he had not believed that he was far enough from the camps of the rebels to insure the estate from a visit of their cavalry. He did not know exactly where he was in relation to the line of either army; but he felt a reasonable assurance that he was out of the reach of danger from the enemy.
He listened, therefore, with tolerable coolness, to the clatter of the horses’ feet, and finally concluded that the animals belonged to the estate. This conclusion, however, was soon unpleasantly disturbed by other and more suspicious sounds than the tramp of horses—sounds like the clatter and clang of cavalry equipments. More than this, Maud looked anxious and excited, when there appeared to be not the least reason for anxiety and excitement on her part.
“Won’t you take another peach, captain?” said she glancing uneasily at the window, and then at the door.
“No more, I thank you, Miss Hasbrouk,” replied Somers. “You seem to be having more visitors.”
“No, I think not,” answered she, with assumed carelessness.
“What is the meaning of those sounds, then?”
“They are nothing; perhaps some of the servants leading the horses down to the meadow.”
“Do your horses wear cavalry trappings, Miss Hasbrouk?”
“Not that I am aware of. Do you think there is any cavalry around the house?”
“I am decidedly of that opinion; and, with your permission, I will step out and learn the occasion of this visit,” said he, rising from the table, and making sure that the two revolvers he wore in his belt were in working order.