It was useless to go back; almost equally useless to go forward.

I had no information to take into our lines of any value, and had failed utterly in my efforts to intercept the important despatches for Beauregard.

The knowledge of my mistake stung me bitterly, yet I could blame no one for the failure except myself.

The apparent carelessness of the girl puzzled me--why should she be so completely at her ease in this adventure?
Only at the first had she exhibited the slightest excitement.

This seemed hardly natural--alone, thus suddenly attacked by a stranger, an enemy, and openly threatened.
"You seem perfectly contented," I said.