Fine bit of luck this, finding you out here alone.

What's going on out yonder ?" "There was an attack on the horse guard, and Mr.Seldon is in pursuit.
But how does it happen you have returned alone?
Has anything occurred to my father ?" I judged from the sound that he seated himself before answering, and there was a hesitancy sufficiently noticeable, so as to cause the girl to ask anxiously: "He has not been injured ?" "Who, the Colonel!" with a short laugh.

"No fear of that while pursuing those fellows; they ride too fast, and are scattered by now all the way from here to the Atlantic.

Probably a squad of the same gang out there fighting Seldon.

Trouble with the Colonel is he takes the affair too seriously; imagines he is actually on the trail, and proposes to remain out all night.