rders in search of supplies, solid or
fluid, and rarely averse to the conversion of public property to
personal use. Like many a good citizen of well-ordered municipalities
within the confines of civilization, they held that what belonged to the
government belonged to them, and the fact that some officer would have
to pay for whatsoever they stole, from a horse to a hammer, cut no
figure in their deliberations. Frayne had long been a favorite place for
fitting out depleted stock, animal, vegetable or mineral, and there had
been times when Webb found as many as forty men almost too small a
guard, and so gave it to be understood that sentries whose carbines were
unlawfully discharged at night, without the formality of preliminary
challenge or other intimation of business intentions, would be held
blameless, provided they had something to show for their shot. A
remarkable feature of the winter's depredation had been that Hay's
corral was never molested, although unguarded by the garrison and quite
as much exposed as the most remote of the government shops, shanties or
stables.

Field mounted his guard, except in cold or stormy weather, in full
uniform, and the daily "march past" in review brought many of the
garrison ladies, most of the children and all of the dogs to the scene.
Some of the households breakfasted just before,--some just after--guard
mounting, but, as a rule, no one sat at table when almost everybody else
was gathered along the westward edge of the broad parade. It was there
the plans for the social day were discussed and determined. Rides,
drives, hunts or picnics away from the post; dances, dinners, croquet or
tennis within the garrison limits. It was the hour when all the girls
were out, looking fair and fresh as daisies, and while the mothers
sedately gossiped along the row of broad verandas, their daughters
blithely chatted in little groups, or, as might often be, paced slowly
with downcast eyes and mantling cheeks at the side of some young gallant
who had no thought for other duty than that of the thrilling moment. And
here they were, well nigh a dozen of them, of all ages from twelve to
twenty, as the major sent his mount to the stables and made quick survey
of the scene, and a moment's glance was sufficient to show that among
them all there was stir and excitement beyond that which would be
caused by so common an incident as the sending forth of a troop on
scout.

It was the fact that Field had go