ight be nearer sixty. He
stood five feet ten in his tiptoed moccasins, and weighed less than
little Harris, who could not touch the beam at five feet five. Harris
was the light weight of the --th Cavalry, in physique, at least, and
by no means proud of the distinction. To offset the handicap of lack of
stature and weight, and of almost cat-like elasticity of frame and
movement, he saw fit to cultivate a deliberation and dignity of manner
that in his cadet days had started the sobriquet of "Heavy," later
altered to "Hefty"; and Hefty Harris he was to the very hour this story
opens--a junior first lieutenant with four years' record of stirring
service in the far West, in days when the telegraph had not yet strung
the Arizona deserts, and the railway was undreamed of. He had only just
returned to the post from a ten days' scout, 'Tonio, the Apache, being
his chief trailer and chosen companion on this as on many a previous
trip. The two made an odd combination, having little in common beyond
that imperturbable self-poise and dignity. The two elsewhere had met
with marked success in "locating" _rancherias_ of the hostile bands,
and in following and finding marauding parties. The two were looked
upon in southern Arizona as "the best in the business," and now,
because other leaders had tried much and accomplished little, it had
pleased the general commanding the Division of the Pacific to say to
his subordinate, the general commanding the Department of Arizona, that
as the "Tonto" Apaches and their fellows of the Sierra Blanca seemed
too wily for his scouting parties sent out from Whipple Barracks, and
the valley garrisons of McDowell and Verde, it might be well to detach
Lieutenant Harris from his troop at old Camp Bowie and send him, with
'Tonio, to report to the commanding officer at Camp Almy.

Now the commanding general of Arizona had thought of that project
himself, and rejected it for two reasons: first, that the officers and
men on duty at Almy would possibly take it as a reflection; second,
that 'Tonio would probably take it as an affront to himself. 'Tonio, be
it understood, was of the Apache Mohave tribe, whose hunting grounds
had long been the upper Verde and adjacent mountains. 'Tonio had no
scruples as to scouting and shooting Chiricahuas and Sierra Blancas or
the roving bands of Yaquis that sometimes ventured across the "Gadsden
Purchase" from Mexico. 'Tonio had done vengeful work among these
fellows. But now he