What purpose?
Did she imagine it would make any difference with him, or did she seek to shield Le Fevre from discovery?
The latter reason appeared the more probable, for the man must have been in the neighborhood lately, else where did that haversack come from?
So engrossed was Hamlin with these thoughts that he hardly realized that some one had lifted the window curtain cautiously.

The beam of light flashed across him, disappearing before he could lift his head to ascertain the cause.

Then a voice spoke, and he leaned back to listen.
"Not there; gone back to the dance likely, while we were at the bar." "Nobody out there ?" this fellow growled his words.
"Some soldier asleep with his head on the rail; drunk, I reckon.

Who was she with this time ?" "Barrett." "Who?
Oh, yes, the fellow who brought in that troop of the Seventh.
Lord, the old girl is getting her hooks into him early.

Well, as long as Gaskins is laid up, she may as well amuse herself somewhere else.
Barrett is rather a good looker, isn't he?
Do you know anything about the man?
Has he got any stuff ?" "Don't know," answered the gruff voice.