he prairie the four herds of the four different troops
are quietly grazing, each herd watched by its trio of alert, though
often apparently dozing, guards. One troop is made up entirely of
black horses, another of sorrels,--two are of bays. Another herd is
grazing close to the stream,--the mules of the wagon-train, and the
white tops of these cumbrous vehicles are dotting the left bank of the
winding water for two or three hundred yards. Cook-fires are
smouldering in little pits dug in the yielding soil, but the cooking
is over for the present; the men have had their substantial dinner and
are now smoking or sleeping or chatting in groups in the shade,--all
but a squad of a dozen, commanded by a grizzled veteran on whose worn
blouse the chevrons of a first sergeant are stitched. Booted and
spurred, with carbines slung and saddles packed, these sun-tanned
fellows are standing or sitting at ease, holding the reins of their
sleepy chargers and waiting apparently for the passengers who are to
start in the stout-built "Concord" drawn by four sleek, strong-looking
mules, now standing in the shade near the canvas homestead of the
commanding officer.

Presently two soldiers following a young man in civilian dress come
forward lugging a little green painted iron safe, and this, with a
swing and a thud, they deposit in the wagon.

"You've seen that before, sergeant," laughs the civilian.

"I have, begad, an' when it had a heap more green inside an' less
outside than it has now. Faith, I never expected to see it again, nor
the paymaster either. We were both bored through and through. 'Twas
our good habits that saved us. Sure your predecessor was a game
fighter, Mr. Barnes, if he _was_ a tenderfoot."

"Yes, the major often tells me he wishes he had him back, and me in
the place he has instead of the one he had," answers the clerk,
whimsically. "Does he know you're to command the escort in? You got
him into such a scrape then that he's never tired of telling of it."

"Then he may feel gratified at the honor I am doing him now. Sure it's
beneath the dignity of a first sergeant to command a squad like this
except on extraordinary occasion, and it's to take the taste of the
last time out of his mouth I volunteered to escort the major now.
'Twas a strong taste to last five years, though my reminder will go
with me many a year longer. Here they come now."

As the sergeant speaks a little group of officers issues from the
battalion