e to get the
flask top into your partner's mouth."

It was done with some difficulty, and Breckenridge waited anxiously until
a quiver ran through the motionless body. Then Cheyne repeated the dose,
and Larry gasped and slowly opened his eyes. He said something the others
could not catch, and closed them again; but Breckenridge fancied a little
warmth crept into his pallid skin.

"I guess that will do," said Cheyne. "In one or two of my stations we had
to be our own field hospital; but I don't know enough of surgery to take
the responsibility of stirring up his circulation any further. Still, when
you can get them ready, we will have hot bottles at his feet."

"My boys have got the fire under," Cheyne said, coming in an hour later.
"Now, I have been in the saddle most of the day, and while your cook has
promised to billet the boys, I'll have to ask you for shelter. If you told
me a little about what led up to this trouble, it might pass the time."

"I don't see why I should," Breckenridge informed him.

"It could not hurt you, any way," suggested Cheyne, "and it might do you
good."

Breckenridge looked at him steadily, and felt a curious confidence in the
discretion of the quiet, bronze-faced man. As the result of it, he told
him a good deal more than he had meant to do when he commenced the story.

"I think you have done right," Cheyne said. "A little rough on him! I had
already figured he was that kind of a man. Well, I hear the rest of the
boys coming back, and I'll send up a sergeant who knows a good deal about
these accidents to look after him."

The sergeant came up by and by and kept watch with Breckenridge for a
while; but, after an hour or so Breckenridge's head grew very heavy, and
the sergeant, taking his arm, silenced his protests by nipping it and
quietly put him out of the room. When he awoke next morning he found that
Grant was capable at least of speech, for Cheyne was asking him questions,
and receiving very unsatisfactory answers.

"In fact," said the cavalry officer, "you don't feel disposed to tell me
who the men that tried to burn your place were, or anything about them?"

"No," Larry said feebly. "It would be pleasanter if you concluded I was
not quite fit to talk just now."

Cheyne glanced at Breckenridge, who was watching him anxiously. "In that
case I could not think of worrying you, and have no doubt I can find out.
In the meanwhile I guess the best thing you can do is to go to sleep