to-night."

"You've got it right."

The lieutenant bowed, and, turning, rode slowly away with an ugly scowl
on his face.

"I reckon Little Bright Eyes has got it in fer you now," said Bud, who
had ridden up in time to hear this part of the conversation. "He's
aimin' ter do some dirty work, I reckon."

"Oh, bother him! He got me all worked up and angry, and that always
makes me feel bad. I wish he had happened to be somewhere else. Forget
him! We'll drive the herd in early in the morning. He couldn't have
inspected the beeves this evening, anyway."

It took some little time to get the big herd in shape for the night, and
Ted was washing himself and putting on some clean clothes when a soldier
dashed up on a horse and asked for Mr. Strong.

"I am Strong," said Ted, rubbing his head and neck vigorously with a
rough towel.

The soldier looked at Ted in some surprise, as the colonel had alluded
to him as the "government beef contractor."

"Well?" said Ted.

"I guess it's your father I want," said the soldier.

"Guess again. There's no such person here."

"Are you the beef contractor?"

"Surest thing you know. What do you want?"

"Colonel's compliments, sir, and the colonel would like to have you call
at his quarters at the first convenient moment."

"What about? These beef cattle?"

"I don't know, sir; I didn't hear him say."

"All right. Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes. Where is his
house?"

"Last house on the right-hand side of the parade, as you go in."

Ted nodded, and went on dressing himself. He was as tired as a dog, but
he supposed the commandant wanted to talk to him about the cattle, and
he would have to go.

As he rode up to the commandant's quarters he saw a young man and a very
pretty girl talking on the veranda, and when he had ascended the steps
he saw that the man was none other than Lieutenant Barrows.

He was just about to ring the bell when the girl looked at him, and her
eyes brightened because Ted Strong, straight and stalwart, with his
fine, handsome head and straightforward, honest eyes, was a person very
good to look at.

"Do you wish to see papa?" she asked, coming forward.

"Colonel Croffut expressed a desire to speak with me," answered Ted,
lifting his hat.

"If you will wait a moment I will call him," said Miss Croffut, for, of
course, Ted had guessed who she was from her question.

She tripped into the hall, and called to her father, and then entered a
ro