were delayed that time but two days."

"I heard the paymaster and surgeon grumbling about the folly of
crossing just now," said Frank.

"Very likely; this is their first march in the Far West."

"The captain and lieutenants heard them, but did not explain, as you
have. Why was that?"

"There are two reasons. One is that in the army, as well as out of it,
'tenderfeet' are left to learn by experience; the other is that our
surgeon resents being cautioned or advised. Now, boys, after dinner
you had better take a _siesta_. By doing so you will find it less
difficult to make an early start to-morrow morning."

"Thank you," replied Frank. "Tom Clary and George Hoey have told us
that a nap is the correct thing after dinner on the march. Henry and I
are going to try it."

"I am sorry, sir," added Henry, "that I was so ill-humored this
morning. I will try to do as the soldiers do when they first start
out--say nothing till day breaks."

"The early start was a surprise to you; you will be prepared for it
hereafter."

A reverberating peal of thunder interrupted our conversation and
caused us to glance towards the west. There we saw a mass of dark
clouds rolling down upon us. Bolt after bolt of lightning zigzagged
across the sky and from sky to earth, and peal after peal of thunder
crashed upon our ears.

VII

A SWOLLEN STREAM AND STOLEN PONY

It was our custom at all camps to park the supply-train in the form of
an oval, with the tongues of the wagons outward and the wheels locked.
An entrance, the width of a wagon, was left at one end.

When, therefore, it became certain that a tempest was about to break
upon us, using the boy corporals as messengers, the chief wagon-master
received orders from me to drive up the mules and corral them within
the circle of wagons, and the commissary stock was hurried under the
shelter of a rocky mesa west of the camp. All this was to prevent a
stampede should the coming tempest be accompanied by wind and hail.

Tent-pins were driven in deeper, guys tightened, cavalry horses driven
up, hobbled, and secured to picket ropes, loose articles thrown into
wagons, and every precaution taken to be in readiness for the storm.

We had not long to wait before the rain came down in torrents. In an
incredibly short time the water was flowing swiftly down the slope to
the river. It gathered against our tent, and finding the frail
structure must go, we seized everything portable, dashed