went on with his writing.

"SOUTH FORK, WHITE RIVER,
"_October_ -- '90, 9 A.M.
"_Lieutenant H.H. Willard, Adjutant Detachment
--th Cavalry._

"SIR,--I have to report that we have just intercepted a small
party of Sioux driving off a four-horse wagon, which contains
eleven Henry and Winchester rifles and at least ten thousand
rounds of ball cartridges. This is probably the 'outfit' of the
fugitives who reached bivouac this morning, reporting it burned
and their comrades killed.

"One of the latter, at least, is alive, but we found him
unconscious, although unharmed. He was driving the wagon. The
Indians scattered, but are now assembling in the cotton-woods a
mile distant. More seem coming to join them. If attacked, we
will hold out; but I wish to push on and ascertain what befell
the others. We cannot, however, leave the wagon, nor have I
force enough to leave a guard.

"Very respectfully,
"G.M. GRAHAM,
"_Second Lieutenant --th Cavalry_,
"_Commanding detachment_."

Then came a significant P.S., at sight of which, little over an hour
later, Major Berry's eyes snapped, and so did his speech.

"Bring those two scoundrels here!" said he, and a hangdog-looking pair
they were when presently lined up before the bearded commander, while
no less a personage than Captain Garrett, at the head of forty
troopers, was setting forth on the trail of his much-envied subaltern,
to relieve him, if surrounded and attacked by the Sioux; to relieve
him, in any event, of the care of the wagon, but under no circumstances
to relieve him of his command or duties. Unless menaced by strong
parties of the Sioux, Mr. Graham was to go ahead with a dozen
additional men, carry out his orders, and Captain Garrett with the rest
should bring that wagon to camp.

Then with Geordie's report and postscript in hand, the major stood
glowering at the fugitives of the morning, now most ruefully yet
furtively studying his face. They suspected something amiss when warned
awhile before that they were not to try to ride off. They knew there
was mischief to pay now.

"You two sku--specimens," began the major, ominously, "told me you were
only accidentally on the Sioux reservation. You swore you were simply
out hunting antelope.