ur bones ached after a long day's travelling. But our tents were
now pitched under tall pine trees and looked inviting. Soldiers have a
knack of making a tent attractive.

"Madame, the Lieutenant's compliments, and your tent is ready."

I then alighted and found my little home awaiting me. The tent-flaps
tied open, the mattresses laid, the blankets turned back, the camp-table
with candle-stick upon it, and a couple of camp-chairs at the door of
the tent. Surely it is good to be in the army I then thought; and after
a supper consisting of soldiers' hot biscuit, antelope steak broiled
over the coals, and a large cup of black coffee, I went to rest,
listening to the soughing of the pines.

My mattress was spread always upon the ground, with a buffalo robe under
it and a hair lariat around it, to keep off the snakes; as it is said
they do not like to cross them. I found the ground more comfortable than
the camp cots which were used by some of the officers, and most of the
women.

The only Indians we had seen up to that time were the peaceful tribes
of the Yumas, Cocopahs and Mojaves, who lived along the Colorado. We had
not yet entered the land of the dread Apache.

The nights were now cool enough, and I never knew sweeter rest than came
to me in the midst of those pine groves.

Our road was gradually turning southward, but for some days Bill
Williams was the predominating feature of the landscape; turn whichever
way we might, still this purple mountain was before us. It seemed to
pervade the entire country, and took on such wonderful pink colors at
sunset. Bill Williams held me in thrall, until the hills and valleys in
the vicinity of Fort Whipple shut him out from my sight. But he seemed
to have come into my life somehow, and in spite of his name, I loved him
for the companionship he had given me during those long, hot, weary and
interminable days.

About the middle of September, we arrived at American ranch, some ten
miles from Fort Whipple, which was the headquarters station. Colonel
Wilkins and his family left us, and drove on to their destination. Some
officers of the Fifth Cavalry rode out to greet us, and Lieutenant Earl
Thomas asked me to come into the post and rest a day or two at their
house, as we then had learned that K Company was to march on to Camp
Apache, in the far eastern part of the Territory.

We were now enabled to get some fresh clothing from our trunks, which
were in the depths of the prairi