s, settlers and cowboys, said
philanthropy. They would hang him, starve him, break his spirit at the
very least. (They were treating him particularly well just now, as he
had sense enough to see.) There must be a deputation,--a committee to go
out at once to the West, with proper credentials, per diem, mileage and
clerks, to see to it that these unfortunate children of the mountain and
prairie were accorded fair treatment and restored to their rights,
especially this brilliant young man Moreau. The general was beyond reach
and reasoning with, but there was Flint, eminent for his piety, and
untrammelled in command; Flint, with aspirations of his own, the very
man to welcome such influence as theirs, and, correspondingly, to give
ear to their propositions. Two days after the safe lodgment of Eagle
Wing behind the bars, the telegrams were coming by dozens, and one week
after that deserved incarceration Fort Frayne heard with mild
bewilderment the major's order for Moreau's transfer to the hospital. By
that time letters, too, were beginning to come, and, two nights after
this removal to the little room but lately occupied by Lieutenant
Field--this very Thanksgiving night, in fact,--the single sentry at the
door stood attention to the commanding officer, who in person ushered
in a womanly form enveloped in hooded cloak, and with bowed head Nanette
Flower passed within the guarded portal, which then closed behind her
and left her alone with her wounded brave.

Blake and Billings had been sent on to Red Cloud, guarding the
presumably repentant Ogalallas. Webb, Ray, Gregg and Ross were still
afield, in chase of Stabber. Dade, with four companies of infantry, was
in the Big Horn guarding Henry's wagon train. There was no one now at
Frayne in position to ask the new commander questions, for Dr. Waller
had avoided him in every possible way, but Waller had nobly done the
work of his noble profession. Moreau, or Eagle Wing, was mending so very
fast there was no reason whatever why the doctor should object to his
receiving visitors. It was Flint alone who would be held responsible if
anything went wrong. Yet Fort Frayne, to a woman, took fire at the
major's action. Two days previous he might have commanded the support of
Mrs. Wilkins, but Nanette herself had spoiled all chance of that. It
seems the lady had been to call at Mrs. Hay's the previous day--that
Mrs. Hay had begged to be excused,--that Mrs. Wilkins had then
persisted, poss