s paradise compared with the
interior."

"So I know," answered the Colonel, remembering the snakes and mosquitoes
and the flies and the beetles and the hideous swamps and sickening
forests, the slime, the mud, the marshes and all the horrors of the
tropics.

"I should like to spend my leave at Fort Blizzard," Broussard continued,
"I thought the climate here was what I needed."

Colonel Fortescue nodded courteously; nobody could stay at Fort Blizzard
without the permission of the C. O. But Broussard felt that the Colonel
saw through him and beyond him. As Colonel Fortescue would not encourage
him by so much as a word, Broussard kept on:

"In the Philippines, I heard some news that was enough to kill a well
man, much less a man just out of jungle fever. You perhaps remember,
sir, the man Lawrence, who, I heard in the Philippines, had deserted?"

"He was supposed to have deserted," corrected the Colonel, who was always
the soul of accuracy.

He glanced at Broussard's face and saw there deep agitation and distress.

"Lawrence has come back," continued Broussard.

Then he stopped, as if unable to keep on, and taking out his
handkerchief, wiped away drops upon his forehead, so deadly white under
his black hair.

Colonel Fortescue remained silent. He saw that Broussard had something
to tell that racked his soul. Broussard sighed heavily, and after a
pause spoke again:

"I found Lawrence in San Francisco; he was trying to work his way back to
Fort Blizzard. I gave him the money to come and came here with him. He
wishes to give himself up and is willing to take his punishment. He got
frightened at striking McGillicuddy and deserted."

"Do I understand that Lawrence was returning voluntarily?" asked the
Colonel.

"Yes, sir--voluntarily. He saw my arrival in the San Francisco
newspapers and came straight to my hotel. If I ever saw a man crazy with
remorse, it was Lawrence. His sobs and cries were terrible to hear. He
knew nothing of his wife and child, and that, too, was helping to drive
him to madness."

"His wife and child are still here," said Colonel Fortescue. "Lawrence's
disappearance has nearly killed his wife; that's always the way with
these faithful souls who do no wrong themselves. But somebody else
always does wrong enough for both. Where is Lawrence now?"

"At the block house, a mile away," replied Broussard. "I wished to see
you before Lawrence gives himself up."

Broussard's stran