the
troops returned to the post. The weather began to be uncomfortably hot
in those low wooden houses. I missed the comforts of home and the fresh
sea air of the coast, but I tried to make the best of it.

Our sleeping-room was very small, and its one window looked out over the
boundless prairie at the back of the post. On account of the great heat,
we were obliged to have this window wide open at night. I heard the
cries and wails of various animals, but Jack said that was nothing--they
always heard them.

Once, at midnight, the wails seemed to be nearer, and I was terrified;
but he told me 'twas only the half-wild cats and coyotes which prowled
around the post. I asked him if they ever came in. "Gracious, no!" he
said; "they are too wild."

I calmed myself for sleep--when like lightning, one of the huge
creatures gave a flying leap in at our window, across the bed, and
through into the living-room.

"Jerusalem!" cried the lieutenant, and flew after her, snatching his
sword, which stood in the corner, and poking vigorously under the divan.

I rolled myself under the bed-covers, in the most abject terror lest
she might come back the same way; and, true enough, she did, with a most
piercing cry. I never had much rest after that occurrence, as we had no
protection against these wild-cats.

The regiment, however, in June was ordered to Arizona, that dreaded and
then unknown land, and the uncertain future was before me. I saw the
other women packing china and their various belongings. I seemed to be
helpless. Jack was busy with things outside. He had three large army
chests, which were brought in and placed before me. "Now," he said, "all
our things must go into those chests"--and I supposed they must.

I was pitifully ignorant of the details of moving, and I stood
despairingly gazing into the depths of those boxes, when the jolly
and stout wife of Major von Hermann passed my window. She glanced in,
comprehended the situation, and entered, saying, "You do not understand
how to pack? Let me help you: give me a cushion to kneel upon--now bring
everything that is to be packed, and I can soon show you how to do it."
With her kind assistance the chests were packed, and I found that we had
a great deal of surplus stuff which had to be put into rough cases, or
rolled into packages and covered with burlap. Jack fumed when he saw it,
and declared we could not take it all, as it exceeded our allowance of
weight. I declared we