CHAPTER XIX.

A SLAP FOR THE MAJOR,

CHAPTER XX.

THE SIOUX SURROUNDED,

CHAPTER XXI.

THANKSGIVING AT FRAYNE,

CHAPTER XXII.

BEHIND THE BARS,

CHAPTER XXIII.

A SOLDIER ENTANGLED,

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE DEATH SONG OF THE SIOUX,

_L'ENVOI._

* * * * *

ILLUSTRATIONS

FRONTISPIECE

"THE MAJOR SOUGHT TO BLOCK THAT MORNING'S RIDE IN VAIN"

RAY'S TROOP

"THE SOLDIER LEAPED FROM HIS SADDLE"

"WITH ONE MAGNIFICENT RED ARM UPLIFTED"

"SOME FEW OF THEIR NUMBER BORNE AWAY BY THEIR COMRADES"

"CHARGE WITH ME THE MOMENT THE LEADERS YELL"

"HUSH! SHE'S COMING"--SHE WAS THERE

* * * * *

A DAUGHTER OF THE SIOUX

CHAPTER I

FORESHADOWED EVENTS

The major commanding looked up from the morning report and surveyed the
post adjutant with something of perturbation, if not annoyance, in his
grim, gray eyes. For the fourth time that week had Lieutenant Field
requested permission to be absent for several hours. The major knew just
why the junior wished to go and where. The major knew just why he wished
him not to go, but saw fit to name almost any other than the real reason
when, with a certain awkward hesitancy he began:

"W--ell, is the post return ready?"

"It _will_ be, sir, in abundant time," was the prompt reply.

"You know they sent it back for correction last month," hazarded the
commander.

"And you know, sir, the error was not mine," was the instant rejoinder,
so quick, sharp and positive as to carry it at a bound to the verge of
disrespect, and the keen, blue eyes of the young soldier gazed, frank
and fearless, into the heavily ambushed grays of the veteran in the
chair. It made the latter wince and stir uneasily.

"If there's one thing I hate, Field, it is to have my papers sent back
by some whipsnapper of a clerk, inviting attention to this or that
error, and I expect my adjutant to see to it that they don't."

"Your adjutant does see to it, sir. I'm willing to bet a month's pay
fewer errors have been found in the papers of Fort Frayne than any post
in the Department of the Platte. General Williams told you as much when
you were in Omaha."

The major fairly wriggled in his cane-bottomed whirligig. What young
Field said was true, and the major knew it. He knew, moreover, there
wasn't a more painstaking post adjutant from the Missouri to the
mountains. He knew their monthly report