It is really singular how we meet. I'm awfully glad to
meet you, although I don't in the least see how you've managed to get
here ahead of us."

Belknap by this time had turned away about his duties, and Orme and I
spoke for a few minutes. I explained to him the changes of my plans
which had been brought about by the accident to the _River Belle_.
"Lieutenant Belknap tells me that you are going through to Laramie with
him," I added. "As it chances, we have the same errand--it is my purpose
also to call on Colonel Meriwether there, in case we do not meet him
coming down."

"How extraordinary! Then we'll be fellow travelers for a time, and I
hope have a little sport together. Fine young fellow, Belknap. And I
must say that his men, although an uncommonly ragged looking lot and
very far from smart as soldiers, have rather a workmanlike way about
them, after all."

"Yes, I think they would fight," I remarked, coolly. "And from the look
of things, they may have need to." I told him then of what he had
discovered at the station house near by, and added the caution not to
mention it about the camp. Orme's eyes merely brightened with interest.
Anything like danger or adventure had appeal to him. I said to him that
he seemed to me more soldier than preacher, but he only laughed and
evaded.

"You'll eat at our mess to-night, of course" said he. "That's our fire
just over there, and I'm thinking the cook is nearly ready. There comes
Belknap now."

Thus, it may be seen, the confusion of these varied meetings had kept me
from learning the name or identity of the late passenger of the
ambulance. I presume both Orme and Belknap supposed that the young lady
and I had met before we took our places on the ground at the edge of the
blanket which served as a table. She was seated as I finally approached,
and her face was turned aside as she spoke to the camp cook, with whom
she seemed on the best of terms. "Hurry, Daniels," she called out. "I'm
absolutely starved to death!"

There was something in her voice which sounded familiar to me, and I
sought a glance at her face, which the next instant was hid by the rim
of her hat as she looked down, removing her long gloves. At least I saw
her hands--small hands, sun-browned now. On one finger was a plain gold
ring, with a peculiar setting--the figure of a rose, carved deep into
the gold!

"After all," thought I to myself, "there are some things which can not
be duplicated. Among these