arting shipping. Beyond the heavy smoke all about the lone and
threatening mountain, the skies were taking on a rose hue of their own
that dulled the glow of the sluggish streams rolling ever down those
scarred and desolate slopes. Near by in silvery chime ship after ship
announced the passing of the night hours, the birth of the infant day,
and a long, light-girdled shape, floating easily close at hand on the
swelling tide, slowly changed from shadowy black to gray, from gray to
violet, and finally--as the still invisible sun peered long leagues away
beyond the Italian mountains, beyond the Adriatic wave, above the dim
Aegean shore, and sent his flashing signals through the upper ether--from
cream to snowy white, there lay the _Hohenzollern_, "all a taunto and
impatient" for her westward voyage for "Gib," for the Azores, for home,
and they of the bulkier, heavier transport envied possibly the lithe and
lissome build of the famous pleasure craft, once the pride of the old
German Lloyds. She might follow in the run past Ischia and Sicily. She
would lead far in the chase for Sandy Hook.

"Been up all night, Sandy?" hailed Foster sharply, believing it high
time to break in upon these romantic moonings.

"No," said the young soldier slowly. "I've been--down."

"Poor boy," thought Foster, as he turned away. "He looks it! Poor,
nonsensical, damn little fool!"

Yet Foster was not so very big, so very wise, so very safe and sure. He
had yet to know for himself much that Ray knew now.

CHAPTER IV

"SHE IS COMING HERE!"

The valley of the Minneconjou was looking its loveliest in the joyous
sunshine of mid-May. The post had been enlarged to meet the needs of the
increasing garrison. A colonel of infantry had been sent to assume
command, there being now two of his battalions at the station and only
one squadron, of four troops, of Ray's old regiment, the --th Cavalry.
At any moment our friend of that name and many years, now become
lieutenant-colonel in his own right, could expect orders for the
Philippines, and he was ready as ever, though there were just a few
reasons why he hated to go. It had been decided that Marion, his wife,
hitherto his almost inseparable companion, should not venture to Manila.
The detail at most would not exceed two years. It might cover only one,
for it was certain that, with the coming enlargement of the army, Ray
would soon be promoted to the full rank of colonel, and that would
probabl