th their chief to the Picacho, came trotting forth from the corral,
followed by two or three led horses. Strong mounted the first to reach
him and sent another to his quarters for Lieutenant Willett. Then
Captain Bonner came strolling back as though quite unconcerned. "May as
well get the men under arms," said he to his alert first sergeant, and
away went every man of Company "C" on a run for the barracks.

"Needn't wait for Willett," the general was heard calling to Strong,
who, with a little party, sat in saddle eagerly awaiting orders. So
down the slope they went, just as the doctor and Mrs. Archer, apprised
in some way of the excitement, came forth and saw the dust cloud in
their wake, and the snorting troop horse pawing the sand in front of
Strong's. Old Bucketts, the quartermaster, came limping up the line,
his florid features a deeper red, and all he could tell in answer to
question was, "They see something beyond the Point. Who's that horse
for, orderly?"

"Loot'nt Willett, sir--said he'd be out in a minute."

But the minutes proved long, and Bucketts went in to help, if need be,
and to get information, if possible. Willett had kicked off his fine
uniform trousers and ununiform Oxfords, and was cursing the striker who
had hidden his scouting rig. "Why the devil didn't you go as you were?"
asked Bucketts unsympathetically. "They're raising the dust far as the
ford already. What's up, anyhow?"

"Can't tell! Don't know! Nobody knows! They send scouts out--couriers
out--messengers out, and spend hours wishing somebody'd come with news,
and then when somebody's seen coming get rattled and send half the
garrison out to meet----"

But suddenly catching sight of the disapprobation on his caller's face,
Willett broke off short. No wonder Buckett's looked astonished at such
language from a staff officer. Nor was that veteran questioner long in
sizing up the cause. It added nothing to his respect for Willett, and
not a little to his concern. He knew by this time, as did almost every
man except the post commander, how and where Willett spent the night
and morning--knew that he had left the store only an hour or so
previous, as though to follow and find the bookkeeper--knew that Case
had been drinking, and saw now that Willett had been following suit.
Without a word on that head, or another question as to the causes of
the excitement, he stumped about the premises, busying himself in
hunting for the missing items, and p