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He took her hand, and pressed it And silence fell again, as the long vigil started, there in the shadow of the tower, on the roof

For some quarter of an hour, neither spoke Then at last, said Stern: "See, now! The lights see out The canoes must have co masked behind the trees The people--whoever they are--will be landing directly now!"

"And then?"

"Wait and see!"

They resigned theirl's breath caineer felt his heart throb with accelerated haste

Now, far in the east, dian to silver, through a thin veil of cirrus cloud A pallidFar below, a breeze stirred the tree-fronds in Madison Forest A bat staggered drunkenly about the tower, then reeled away into the glooh aloft, an owl uttered its melancholy plaint

Beatrice shuddered

"They'll be here pretty soon!" whispered she "Hadn't we better go down, and get our guns? In case--"

"Tih," he answered "Wait a while"

"Hark! What's that?" she exclai her breath

Off to northward, dull, , strangely barbaric

"Heavens!" ejaculated Stern "War-drums! Tom-toms, as I live!"