"I understand this no better than you," I admitted finally. "I shall have the house thoroughly searched, and every one of my men examined. But I am afraid we shall be obliged to leave before the mystery is solved. Hear those guns! It almost seems as though the fighting was already within sight of the house." I stepped across to the window and looked out. "However it is all to the north and east, and there is still opportunity for us to get safely away into the ravine. I cannot understand why our forces have not taken advantage of it--in that way they could have struck the enemy a stunning blow on the left. There's a blunder somewhere. But we can hold the house no longer; only before I go I must know that you believe in me."
"I do," earnestly.
"And I am going to clinch that faith," opening the door into the hall. "Major Hardy, just a moment."
He turned back from the open window, his face flushed with excitement.
"The stragglers are beginning to show up," he exclaimed pointing, "and the boys are fighting like hell out there beyond those woods. And--and see that dust cloud over yonder; by all the gods, it will be Chambers coming up at last!"
"Then hurry here; I want to ask you just one question for your daughter's sake: Were you my second in the duel this morning?"
"Certainly."
"Why didn't you tell me, papa? Why didn't you explain that Lieutenant Galesworth was not to blame?"
"Well, I didn't want you to feel any worse than you did. You and Le Gaire were going to be married, and I supposed you cared a good deal for him. Someway I couldn't make myself talk about it, Billie; that's all."
Her eyes sought mine, but just then Miles appeared in the hall, halting with a salute as he caught sight of me.