n unjustifiable
outrage, and wished the colonel to share half of the responsibility.

"The fact is, sir," the military man exclaimed, most pompously, "we want
your horses in the name of the government."

"Our horses, did you say?" Fred asked, with a sweet smile.

"That's what I said, sir," the colonel replied, swelling with bad blood
and dignity.

"I think, that you are mistaken, sir, as we are not the owners of any
such kind of animals," Fred answered.

"Why, what do you call them, sir?" the colonel cried, triumphantly,
pointing to the unconscious brutes, who were eating their provender in
the stable which we had built just adjoining the store.

"Those are horses, certainly, sir, but they don't belong to us."

His face was a picture when he replied, it was so gentle, and appeared
so bland and courteous, as though he would not offend for the world.

CHAPTER LXXXII.

SAME CONTINUED.--DEATH OF ROSS.

"Young man," cried the colonel, his face swelling as though the hot
blood would burst through its thin covering, "do you mean to tell me
that those animals do not belong to you or your partner?"

"In the first place," answered Fred, with quiet dignity, "my name is
Frederick ----, and I desire to be addressed as such in our
communications, and not by the ambiguous title of 'young man.' In the
next place, as I told you before, we are not the owners of those
animals."

"It's a trick to cheat us," muttered the commissioner.

"Did you address a remark to me?" Fred asked, turning to the police
officer.

The commissioner declined to reply, but he seemed to feel what he had
uttered.

"The animals are wanted, and we shall take them, sir, for the use of
the government; for the use of the government, sir, I suppose that you
understand," the colonel cried.

"That is something that we have no control over, and are not interested
in. I have no doubt that the owner or owners of the animals know how to
protect their own property, and will do so."

The commissioner made a signal to his men, and three or four of them
started for the stable to remove the animals. Just at that moment the
agent of the stage company entered the store, and his presence was never
more desirable.

"Hullo," he cried, "what the devil are you doing with my horses, Fred?"

"We are doing nothing with them, but these gentlemen seemed to think
that government was in want of them, and therefore are about to
confiscate them. I am glad that you