Yet she must cross. Something had to be done—something had to be done while the sun was shining and the breeze in the meadow set the flowers all swaying. She looked desperately at the silent sentry box. Nothing moved. Yet she knew her enemy was watching her.
Then, frightened, she set one foot across the line—took one more step, very timidly.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
She knew it—she knew it! It had come—it had happened to her at last!
"F-friend!" she faltered—"but I do not know the countersign."
"Pass, friend, without the countersign!"
Could she believe her ears!
She listened again, her hand resting against her heart. But she only heard a child laughing inside the sentry box, and the smothered ruffle of preening wings.
Her dream partly awoke her; she lay very still, vaguely conscious of where her cheek was resting, then closed her eyes to seek her enemy again among her dreams.