o my quarters and lay violent
hands on a man behaving like a gentleman, which _you_ are not," was the
cutting rejoinder of the older man, and it stung Fitzroy to fresh fury.
Was he, the model rider of the regiment, to be braved like this, and in
presence of the girl he loved?

"Let go! You _must_, Mayhew!" he hissed through clenched teeth. "You
have no authority. You are only a civilian. You can be broke and fired
if I report this--outrage--and what I know. Let go!" he shouted, freeing
himself by furious effort. "Now, you, Rawdon, come with me. No. Stop!
Corporal Watts!" he shouted, to a non-commissioned officer, swinging up
the pathway toward the guard-house on the bluff, four men of the guard
at his back. "Come this way," he continued, for at first no attention
was paid to his hail. "Come here and take charge of this man. It's the
order of the officer-of-the-day."

Doubtfully, reluctantly, leaving his patrol disgustedly waiting,
Corporal Watts slowly descended the incline, crossed the broad,
hard-beaten road, then, obviously embarrassed at the presence of Dora
Mayhew, demanded further information before he obeyed.

By this time, Rawdon, pale and silent, was standing at the foot of the
steps, indignation, resentment, and trouble all mingling in his face.
Too well he and other young soldiers had learned to know the weight of
Sergeant Fitzroy's spite. But the trouble in his eyes gave way to sudden
relief. Two officers were coming swiftly round the corner of the corral,
Lanier foremost.

"I say again, Corporal Watts, this man is to be taken in charge at once.
It is Captain Curbit's order as officer-of-the-day. I came direct from
him," was Fitzroy's final order. But it failed.

"Do nothing of the kind, Corporal Watts," said a quiet voice, at sound
of which Sergeant Fitzroy whirled about and turned, if a possible thing,
a full shade redder. There at the gate stood Lieutenant Lanier. There, a
dozen yards away, but trudging fast as dignity would permit, came the
officer-of-the-day.

A jerk of the head to the corporal, in response to his instant salute,
and that young soldier, much relieved, strode away to join his men. Then
Captain Curbit turned on Sergeant Fitzroy.

"You told me nothing of the facts in this case, sir. Lieutenant Lanier
says he _directed_ this man to wait here, with the colonel's message,
while he rode to stables. Pardon me, Miss Dora. Come this way,
sergeant."

And there was nothing for it but to o