's house."

"And Captain Foster's is the next beyond," stated Lieutenant Sears.

CHAPTER IX

ORDERED TO FRONTIER DUTY

"You've all your equipment with you, Mr. Overton?" inquired Captain
Foster, of H company, after the presentation had been made and
Lieutenant Sears had withdrawn.

"Yes, sir."

"You'll want much of your time to-day for getting to rights in your
quarters, Mr. Overton. You'll be required only to turn out for parade at
the end of the afternoon. To-morrow you will enter fully upon your
duties. Mr. Sears will post you thoroughly at mess this evening."

"Very good, sir."

"That is all I have in the way of instructions. Wait, and I'll see if I
can find Mrs. Foster. I want you to meet her."

A few moments later Hal found himself chatting with Mrs. Foster, a very
sweet little woman, some years younger than the captain. Hal took an
instant liking to her. Mrs. Foster asked him much about his home folks,
adding:

"As soon as you feel that you're settled in your new life and duties,
Mr. Overton, I shall ask you to permit me to invite your mother here as
my guest. I know that a mother always wants to see her son's life in the
service."

"When that time comes, Mrs. Foster," the young officer answered, "you
will be giving me the greatest happiness that can come to me."

"Well," pursued that good lady, "it will not take you so very long to
get settled in your new duties. The time for your mother's visit need
not be so very far away."

"You forget one thing, my dear," interposed the captain.

"And what is that?" questioned Mrs. Foster.

"You forget the Mexican rebels."

"Those barefooted, half-starved ragamuffins!" cried Mrs. Foster. "_They_
can have nothing to do with our plans here at the post."

"On the contrary, they may be mischievous enough to upset the whole
routine of garrison life. You have read something about the Mexican
rebels, Mr. Overton?"

"I have seen a few paragraphs in the newspaper, sir," Hal answered.
"Enough to know that some pretender in the country across the border is
trying to upset the present government in his own interests."

"What do you think, Overton, about the chances of that rebellion?"

"As far, sir, as I have been able to form any opinion from the press
accounts, it seems that only a few hundred of the rebels are in the
field, and that they are spending most of their time in running away
from the troops of the Mexican government."

"Ah, but the fact t