messages,
fearing she would not understand she was to go on an errand unless all
the conditions of her education were observed.

During that day the Navajos simply showed their presence occasionally
among the trees, far away on either flank. We once heard the rapid
strokes of an axe, as of chopping, and wondered what it could mean.
Nothing further happened till dusk. Then I called Vic and attached the
note to her collar, wrapped in a piece of my handkerchief.

"I think, sergeant," I said, "we had better send our message before it
gets darker and the Navajos close up nearer or the corporal lights his
fire."

"Yes, she can't leave any too soon, sir, I think. It's going to be
pokerish work for us before morning, and I shall be mighty glad to see
a few of old Company F appear round that rock."

After fastening the note securely in the dog's collar, I placed the
stick in her mouth and, opening the eastern door, said, "Now, little
Vic, take that stick to the sergeant--go!"

She turned from the doorway, crossed the room, and dropped the stick
at Sergeant Cunningham's feet. The sergeant stooped, and placing his
hand under her chin raised her head upward and laid his bronze cheek
affectionately upon it. "Well, Vicky," he said, "there is but one
sergeant in the world to you, and he is here, isn't he?"

"That's so, sir," exclaimed Corporal Frank, addressing me. "We never
sent her to anybody but you, the sergeant, and the cook."

"True enough. I'll have to send her to the cook--the only one now in
camp to whom she has borne messages. As he is the dispenser of fine
bones and dainties, and she has had nothing to eat since morning,
perhaps it is as well he is to receive this message. Here, Vic,"
placing the chip once more in her mouth, "take this stick to the
cook--go!"

The setter looked at me an instant, then at the sergeant and corporal,
walked to the door, looked out, and then glanced questioningly at me.

"Yes, little one; the cook--go!"

She bounded through the doorway and turned the corner of the butte at
a run, bearing our summons to our comrades at Los Valles Grandes.

For some time after the departure of Vic the sergeant and I stood at
our windows and gloomily watched the darkness deepen in the woods.
Frank looked out of the window above the spring and was also silent.
I was disposed to put off the lighting of our fire upon the roof as
long as it appeared safe to do so, in order to husband our fuel. The
animal