“Good God, what folly!” I exclaimed. “For whom and for what do you take me, then, that you refuse to answer the polite and harmless question of an American officer!”

“You had not so named yourself.”

“Very well, then; I am Euan Loskiel, Ensign in Morgan’s rifle regiment!”

“You say so.”

“Do you doubt it?”

“Birds sing,” she said. Suddenly she stepped from the dark doorway, came to where I stood, bent forward and looked me very earnestly in the eyes — so closely that something — her nearness — I know not what — seemed to stop my heart and breath for a second.