e garrison, his first question on dismounting was for Willett,
and it was Lilian who had to answer that she believed he was at Mr.
Strong's. So thither, with but brief, though kindly, word with Mrs.
Stannard, and as brief an expression of his satisfaction that Mrs.
Archer had gone to see Harris, the veteran took his way. The horses
were led to stables. The other officers, hastening homeward, bowing in
hurried, perfunctory fashion to the ladies, turned again at sound of
his voice, and all three together entered the adjutant's house, an
orderly remaining at the door. Lilian looked anxiously after them and
Mrs. Stannard inquiringly. "They have seen something, I know," said the
girl, "and something father is puzzled about. He would not have come
and gone without a kiss." Already Mrs. Stannard had noted his fond
custom, had marked its omission now when, ever since luncheon, he had
been away, and she, too, divined that he was preoccupied, even
perplexed. But once already she had too quickly spoken her thoughts,
and there must be no more of that. In three minutes the little party
came forth again, Willett with them now, and, field-glasses in hand,
away they strode to the northward edge of the plateau and went speedily
along toward a point at the back of the hospital where there stood a
little platform, railed about with untrimmed pine, a rustic lookout
much affected by the men in the long evenings, but seldom visited when
the sun was up. It took no time at all for half the remaining garrison
to turn out and, at respectful distance, stand curiously watching them,
and little more for the other half to come flocking out of doors. "Seen
somethin' from way up on the Picacho," explained the orderly, as he
jogged by with the heated horses, "an' came back akiting!"

Two minutes more and the adjutant, Strong, came running from the
platform. "Don't unsaddle," he shouted. "Bring those horses back and
get some more! Send the escort up here at once!"

The officers at the lookout had not even unslung their pistol belts,
and Willett now was seen to set down his binocular and start away. The
general called to him and he half turned and hurriedly answered: "Back
just as quick as I can get my Colt, sir." He was unfastening his blouse
at the throat as he went, and even at the distance men could see how
hot and flushed he looked, while the others seemed so hard, "tried out"
and fit for anything. Presently the half dozen horsemen, who had been
wi