cout's pay, I
would stay in the army all my life. We have got a sort of roving
commission now, and I hope we can do something with it before we go back
to the fort."

Details for such duties as this which had just been assigned to Corporal
Owens are about the only recreations that fall to the lot of a private
soldier on the Plains, and they are eagerly sought after. Being almost
always commanded by a sergeant or corporal who has proved to the
satisfaction of his superiors that he can be trusted, the men never fail
to enjoy themselves to the fullest extent. It is a great relief to them
to be entirely out of reach of their Argus-eyed officers, who are so
prompt to take them to task for the least neglect of duty.

When they reached the place where the Brindles were encamped, they found
that Carey had been successful in his mission. He had brought Mr.
Wentworth and his boys back with him, and the troopers were crowded
about them listening to Sheldon's account of his experience among the
Kiowas.

"Get all you can out of them, boys," exclaimed Bob, "for you will not
see them after to-night."

"Why won't we?" asked half a dozen troopers at once.

"Because they are not going to the fort. They are going to Holmes's
ranche, wherever that is, and we're going to see them safely there with
the stock."

"We? who?"

"Our same old squad--all except Carey."

The owner of that name, whose face had lighted up with pleasure, jumped
to his feet with an angry exclamation. "What do you mean by that,
corporal?" he demanded.

"It's no fault of mine, Carey," replied Bob. "The captain thinks you had
better go to the fort, so that the doctor can look at your wound."

Carey made no reply, but elbowed his way through the crowd and started
toward the other end of the camp. In a few minutes he was standing in
front of Captain Clinton with his hand to his cap.

"What is it, Carey?" asked that officer after he had returned the
salute.

"My respects to you, sir," answered the trooper, "and, if I might take
the liberty, I'd like to know why I am to be left behind while the rest
of our squad goes off on a picnic with them cattle?"

"Why, you are wounded," said the captain.

"Just a little scratch, sir," protested the trooper. "But even if I had
no right arm at all, I could ride and shoot, and when it came to yelling
I'd be there too."

"Very good. If you think you can stand it, go on."

"Thank you, sir. I knew you wouldn't go back on