When they were but a few paces distant he sprang out and, as the pony shied and reared at sight of him, he clutched the bridle and pulled the pony's head down.

Looking up he encountered the astonished and bewildered gaze from a pair of the prettiest dark eyes it had ever been his fortune, or misfortune, to look into.
Betty, for it was she, looked at the young man in amazement, while Alfred was even more surprised and disconcerted.

For a moment they looked at each other in silence.

But Betty, who was scarcely ever at a loss for words, presently found her voice.
"Well, sir! What does this mean ?" she asked indignantly.
"It means that you must turn around and go back to the fort," answered Alfred, also recovering himself.
Now Betty's favorite ride happened to be along this road.

It lay along the top of the bluff a mile or more and afforded a fine unobstructed view of the river.