d scarcely less honored by the
prisoner, whom the toils and privations of the day had brought to
enjoyment of a good appetite.

With many cheering and kind expressions of encouragement from the
sergeant, the young officer prepared to comply with the demands of his
captors, and was soon in readiness to attend them. Robinson lifted him
into his saddle with a grasp as light as if he was dealing with a boy,
and then bound him by a surcingle to the horse's back, whilst he offered
a good-humored apology for the rigor of this treatment.

"It is not the most comfortable way of riding, Mr. Ensign," he said,
with a chuckle; "but fast bind, fast find, is a'most an excellent good
rule for a traveller in the dark. I hope you don't think I take any
pleasure in oncommoding you, but it is my intention to lead your horse
by the rein to-night, and this friend of mine will keep in the rear. So,
by way of a caution, I would just signify to you that if you should
think of playing a prank you will certainly bring some trouble upon your
head--as one or another of us would in that case be obliged to fire. It
is nothing more than military punctilium to give you a friendly warning
of this."

"You might dispense with this severity, I should think," replied the
prisoner, "upon my pledge of honor that I will make no effort to
escape."

"I can take no pledge in the dark," returned Horse Shoe; "daylight
mought make a difference. If we should happen to fall in with any of
your gangs I'm thinking a pledge wouldn't come to much more than a
cobweb when I should ax you to gallop out of the way of your own people.
Flesh is weak, as the preacher says, and, to my mind, it's a little the
weaker when the arm is strong or the foot swift. Temptation is at the
bottom of all backsliding. No, no, Mr. Ensign, you may get away, if you
can; we'll take care of you whilst we're able--that's a simple
understanding."

Without further speech the party proceeded on their journey. They
travelled as rapidly as was consistent with the ease of the prisoner and
the nature of the ground over which they had to move. For the first
eight or ten miles, their route lay across a country with but few
impediments, except such as arose from the unseasonable hour of the
ride. After this they found the toil and hazard of travel continually
increasing. They had been retreating from the settled country towards a
rough wilderness, which was penetrated only by an obscure road, so
little