nowing naught of what was going on about him. When he came to again, he
heard a confused murmur of talk about him, and grew dimly aware that his
late antagonist was standing over him, panting still and slightly
swaying, and that an officer, a young athlete, was saying rebukeful
words. Well he knew him, as what trooper of the ----th did
not?--Lieutenant Beverly Field; but, seeing the reopened eyes it was the
Indian again who sought to speak. With uplifted hand he turned from the
rescuer to the rescued.

"You're saved this time, you cur of a Mick," were, expurgated of
unprintable blasphemy, the exact words of the semi-savage lord of the
frontier, "but by the God that made us both I'll get you before another
moon, dash dash you, and when I do I'll cut out your blackguard heart
and eat it." Then bounding on his pony, away he sped at mad gallop,
westward.

For a moment no further word was spoken. The officer presently helped
the soldier to his feet and stayed him, for the latter's legs seemed
wobbly. Field let his salvage get its breath before asking questions.
Yet he was puzzled, for the man's face was strange to him. "Who are
you?" he asked, at length, "and what on earth are you doing out here
this time of night?"

"Kennedy, sir. Captain Truscott's troop, at Fort Beecher. I got in with
despatches an hour ago--"

"What!" cried Field. "Despatches! What did you do--"

"Gave 'em to the major, sir. Beg pardon; they was lookin' for the
adjutant, sir, an' Sergeant Hogan said he wasn't home."

Even in the moonlight the Irishman saw the color fade from the young
officer's face. The hand that stayed him dropped nerveless. With utter
consternation in his big blue eyes, Field stood for a moment, stunned
and silent. Then the need of instant action spurred him. "I must go--at
once," he said. "You are all right now--You can get back? You've been
drinking, haven't you?"

"The major's health, sir--just a sup or two."

"I've no time now to listen to how you came to be out here. I'll see you
by and by." But still the young officer hesitated. One hand grasped the
rein of his horse. He half turned to mount, then turned again.
"Kennedy," he faltered, "you'd have been a dead man if we--if I--hadn't
reached you at that moment."

"I know it, sir," burst in Pat, impetuously. "I'll never forget it--"

"Hush, Kennedy, you _must_ forget--forget that you saw--spoke with
me--forget that you saw or heard--any other soul on earth out here
to-