ying, "It's fire"--always a dread at wind-swept Cushing.
Almost at the same instant the colonel and Scott reached the veranda
without. A dozen officers were there, intent and listening. "I tell you
I heard it plainly," said one of their number, "and the Foster sleigh
isn't back."

"Heard what, sir?" demanded the colonel. "What's the trouble?"

"A cry for help--or something, over yonder. Barker and Blake are gone.
There was a stir at the guard-house, too."

And as though to confirm this much, at least, there presently appeared
round the corner of the building the sergeant of the guard, in his fur
cap and overcoat, and with him a burly soldier, bleeding at the nose and
bristling with wrath. One hand covered a damaged eye; with the other he
saluted Captain Snaffle, who had edged to the front of the group.

"Sir, I have to report Trooper Rawdon assaulting a non-commissioned
officer."

For an instant there was silence. Then Major Scott gave tongue.

"Trooper Rawdon!" cried he, "why he's been with me nearly a month, and
now has a month's furlough from General Crook. He's the best man of the
escort."

"Refused to obey my orders to go to his quarters, sir, and assaulted me
when I tried to enforce 'em. Sergeant Blunt says he won't confine him
unless Captain Snaffle orders it."

"One moment, sergeant," interposed Colonel Button. "Has any
disturbance--any cry for help--been heard at the guard-house,--or was
this the explanation?" And he looked with disfavor on the battered
complainant.

"Number Five, sir, hasn't called off half past 'leven. I've sent the
corporal to see what's the matter."

"Number Five!" cried two or three men at the instant, and without a word
Captain Sumter hurried away, on a bee line across the snow-covered
parade, following the tracks of the adjutant.

"Number Five!" repeated the colonel. "That's just back of Sumter's
quarters;" and he stepped out into the moonlight for clearer view.

Afar over across the glistening level a few lights glimmered faintly in
the row of officers' quarters, bounding the northward side of the
garrison, but neither along their front nor that of the westward row was
there sign of moving humanity. The moon at its full, in that rare,
clear atmosphere, illuminated the post, the frozen slopes beyond, and
the dazzling range of the Rockies, with a radiance that rendered objects
visible almost as at midday. Only the hurrying form of Captain Sumter
could be seen half way acros