been ever since his coming, although she never realized
it.) Fancy the sensation created at Omaha, where the Hays were well
known, when this news was received! Flint did not say "under arrest,"
guarded day and night by a brace of sentries who were sorely disgusted
with their duty. He had no doubt his appeals for more troops would be
honored, in view of his strenuous representations, but the day passed
without assurance to that effect and without a wired word to say his
action regarding Mrs. Hay had been approved. It began to worry him. At 3
P. M. Mrs. Hay sent and begged him to call upon her that she might
assure and convince him of her innocence. But this the major found means
to refuse, promising, however a meeting in the near future, after he had
received tidings from the front, which he was awaiting and expecting
every moment. He had reluctantly given permission to visit her to Mrs.
Dade, Mrs. Ray and two or three other women whose hearts were filled
with sympathy and sorrow, and their heads with bewilderment, over the
amazing order. Indeed, it was due to Mrs. Dade's advice that she so far
triumphed over pride and wrath as to ask to see the major and explain.
She had received tidings from her husband and Nanette. She was perfectly
willing to admit it,--to tell all about it,--and, now that Pete and
Crapaud had turned out to be such unmitigated rascals, to have them
caught and castigated, if caught they could be. But all this involved no
disloyalty. They had always been friendly with the Sioux and the Sioux
with them. Everybody knew it;--no one better than General Crook himself,
and if he approved why should a junior disapprove? Indeed, as she asked
her friends, what junior who had ever known Mr. Hay and her, or the
Indians either, would be apt to disapprove so long as the Indians, when
on the warpath, received no aid or comfort from either her husband or
herself? "And if they had," said she, further, waxing eloquent over her
theme, "could we have _begun_ to give them half the aid or comfort--or a
thousandth part of the supplies and ammunition--they got day after day
through the paid agents of the Interior Department?"

But these were questions army people could not properly discuss,--their
mission in life being rather to submit to, than suggest, criticism.

And so another restless day went by and no more news came from either
front or rear--from the range to the north or Rock Springs at the south,
and Flint was just