t least.

As the winter came on, the isolation of the place had a rather
depressing effect upon us all. The officers were engaged in their
various duties: drill, courts-martial, instruction, and other military
occupations. They found some diversion at "the store," where the
ranchmen assembled and told frontier stories and played exciting games
of poker. Jack's duties as commissary officer kept him much away from
me, and I was very lonely.

The mail was brought in twice a week by a soldier on horseback. When he
failed to come in at the usual time, much anxiety was manifested, and I
learned that only a short time before, one of the mail-carriers had
been killed by Indians and the mail destroyed. I did not wonder that on
mail-day everybody came out in front of the quarters and asked: "Is the
mail-carrier in?" And nothing much was done or thought of on that day,
until we saw him come jogging in, the mail-bag tied behind his saddle.
Our letters were from two to three weeks old. The eastern mail came
via Santa Fe to the terminus of the railroad, and then by stage; for
in 1874, the railroads did not extend very far into the Southwest. At
a certain point on the old New Mexico road, our man met the San Carlos
carrier, and received the mail for Apache.

"I do not understand," I said, "how any soldier can be found to take
such a dangerous detail."

"Why so?" said Jack. "They like it."

"I should think that when they got into those canons and narrow defiles,
they would think of the horrible fate of their predecessor," said I.

"Perhaps they do," he answered; "but a soldier is always glad to get a
detail that gives him a change from the routine of post life."

I was getting to learn about the indomitable pluck of our soldiers. They
did not seem to be afraid of anything. At Camp Apache my opinion of the
American soldier was formed, and it has never changed. In the long
march across the Territory, they had cared for my wants and performed
uncomplainingly for me services usually rendered by women. Those were
before the days of lineal promotion. Officers remained with their
regiments for many years. A feeling of regimental prestige held officers
and men together. I began to share that feeling. I knew the names of the
men in the company, and not one but was ready to do a service for the
"Lieutenant's wife." "K" had long been a bachelor company; and now a
young woman had joined it. I was a person to be pampered and cared for,
and