tween the three officers that
eventful morning. As once again the advance guard pushed cautiously
forward toward the banks of the arroyo in the bottom, Ray turned to
Field. "Skirmish work suits you better than office duty, Field. You look
far livelier than you did yesterday. Don't you begin to see that the
major was right in sending you out with us?" And the dark eyes of the
trained and experienced soldier shone kindly into the face of the
younger man.

"I'm glad to be with you, Captain Ray," was the prompt answer. "It
isn't--my being sent, but the _way_ I was sent, or the--cause for which
I was sent that stings me. I thought then, and I think now, that if you
had been post commander it wouldn't have been done. I don't know yet
what charge has been laid at my door----"

"There was no time to talk of reasons, Field," interposed Ray, though
his keen eyes were fixed on the distant ridge ahead, beyond which the
last of the Indians had now disappeared. The outermost troopers, with
Sergeant Scott, were within a few hundred yards of the little clump of
cottonwoods that marked the site of a water hole. To the right and left
of it curved and twisted the dry water course between its low, jagged,
precipitous banks. Behind the advance, full four hundred yards, rode the
skirmish line from the first platoon, a dozen strong. Far out to the
east and west the flankers moved steadily northward, keenly watching the
slopes beyond them and scanning the crooked line of the arroyo ahead.
Not a sign at the moment could be seen of the painted foe, yet every man
in the troop well knew they swarmed by dozens behind the buttes and
ridges ahead. Ray and Field, riding easily along in rear of the line,
with only the trumpeter within earshot, relaxed in no measure the
vigilance demanded by the situation, yet each was deeply concerned in
the subject of the talk.

"There was no time. We had to start at once," continued Ray. "Wait until
you are back at the old desk, Field, and you'll find the major is, and
was, your stanch friend in this matter--"

"I'll never go back to it, captain!" broke in Field, impetuously. "If
ordered to resume duty as adjutant, come what may, I shall refuse."

But before Ray could interpose again there came sudden and stirring
interruption. From a point far down the "swale," from behind the low
bank of the stream bed, three rifle shots rang out on the crisp morning
air. The horse of the leading flanker, away out to the right