t direction. He and his men, as well as the horses,
mules, and teamsters, are fairly tired out when at nightfall they park
the wagons in a big semicircle, with the broad river forming a shining
chord to the arc of white canvas. All the live-stock are safely herded
within the enclosure; a few reliable soldiers are posted well out to the
south and east, to guard against surprise, and the veteran Sergeant
Clancy is put in command of the sentries. The captain gives strict
injunctions as to the importance of these duties; for he is far from
easy in his mind over the situation. The Riflers, he knows, are over in
the valley of the Sweet Root. The steamer with Rayner's men is tied up
at the bank some five miles below, around the bend. The ----th are far
off to the northward across the Elk, as ordered, and must be expecting
on the morrow to make for the old Indian "ferry" opposite Battle Butte.
The main body of the Sioux are reported farther down stream, but he
feels it in his bones that there are numbers of them within signal, and
he wishes with all his heart the ----th were here. Still, the general
was sure he would stir up war-parties on the other shore. Individually,
he has had very little luck in scouting during the summer, and he cannot
help wishing he were with the rest of the crowd instead of here,
train-guarding.

Presently Mr. Hayne appears, elastic and debonair as though he had not
been working like a horse all day. His voice sounds so full of cheer and
life that Hull looks up smilingly:

"Well, youngster, you seem to love this frontier life."

"Every bit of it, captain. I was cut out for the army, as father
thought."

"We used to talk it over a good deal in the old days when I was
stationed around Washington," answers Hull. "Your father was the warmest
friend I had in civil circles, and he made it very pleasant for me. How
little we thought it would be my luck to have you for quartermaster!"

"The fellows seemed struck all of a heap in the Riflers at the idea of
your applying for me, captain. I was ready to swear it was all on
father's account, and would have told them so, only Rayner happened to
be the first man to tackle me on the subject, and he was so crusty about
it I kept the whole thing to myself rather than give him any
satisfaction."

"Larry, my boy, I'm no preacher, but I want to be the friend to you your
father was to me. You are full of enthusiasm and life and spirits, and
you love the army ways an