ommand there until the campaign is over, as it will be the
main supply depot. His wife is an enlivening Christian, a sort
of Mrs. Gummidge and Mrs. Malaprop rolled into one, but,
barring a sensational tendency and a love for theatricals in
every-day life, there is nothing dangerous about her. I'm glad
my own wife will be able to remain with the home people, for
Mrs. Whaling would scare the life out of her with her tales of
fearful adventure in the Indian country, and I don't quite like
the idea of our ladies being subjected to her ministrations
during the separation. However, Mrs. Stannard will be there,
and she's a balance-wheel. Bless that woman! What would we do
without her?

"Now, Jack, a word from Stannard himself. He said to write you
fully, that nothing might be concealed. Stryker's letter is
straight to the point. It is going to be the biggest Indian war
the country has ever seen, and one in which there must be hard
fighting. Armed, equipped, and supplied and mounted as those
Sioux and Cheyennes are, it will take our best to thrash them.
Stannard says that you must be influenced in your action by no
misrepresentation one way or other. No man in the regiment can
say in his presence or mine that you have not done your full
share of Indian work, and no gentleman in the regiment will
blame you should you see fit to stick to the Point and let the
rest of us tackle Mr. Lo. You are the only newly-married man in
the crowd. On the other hand, your troop is commanded in your
absence by Gleason, whom--well, you know him better than I; and
in his absence by young Wells, who is to take his first lesson
in campaigning this summer. Just as luck would have it, Gleason
and Ray were ordered to Leavenworth on a horse board, and were
not here to go with the command. Ray heard of the move and
telegraphed, begging Stannard to get him relieved and sent at
once to the regiment, but the board was ordered at division
headquarters and 'twas no use. Ray will have to stay until the
horses are all bought; and I'm bound to say he did his best to
get back. For some reason, which I could better explain if I
didn't have to write, Ray and I don't seem to 'gee.' He has
been offish to me ever since our first meeting here, and was
one of the men whose failure to cong