he could knock, Mrs. Archer met him at
the door.

"We saw them coming," said she. "Is it a despatch--for the general?"

"From Captain Turner," said he gravely. "I read it, hoping not to have
to disturb the general, but--there's been a fight and some are wounded.
Turner needs instructions."

The army-bred woman needed no further word. She knew at once what had
to be done. "Wake father, Lilian, dear," she gently called from the
foot of the stairs. "Will you come in, Mr. Briggs? I can light up in a
moment."

"There's light in abundance out here, thank you, Mrs. Archer. Besides,
I have our runner." And, turning back, he pointed to the steps where,
still watched by Corporal Hicks, the dusky messenger squatted wearily.
All Apaches looked alike to Hicks. His attitude was plainly indicative
of a conviction that treachery of some kind was afoot, and this
particular envoy had designs on his commander or that commander's wife.
They could hear the veteran bustling about upstairs, hurriedly donning
his uniform. Then came Strong, with his quick, bounding step, for
Briggs had called him before disturbing the "Old Man." A moment later,
by the clear light of the unclouded moon, Archer was hurriedly reading
Turner's brief despatch.

BIVOUAC ON TORONTO CREEK, NOVEMBER 24TH, 187--.

POST ADJUTANT,
CAMP ALMY.

We have had two more brushes with Tonto Apaches, resulting in the
breaking up of two rancheri-as and the scattering of the band,
leaving several dead in each affair, also a few wounded bucks and
squaws that I had to leave, as we had no means of sending them to
the post or caring for them in any way. Sergeant Payne, Corporal
Smith, G, and Troopers Schreiter and Wenzel, wounded, are doing as
well as can be expected, but must remain at this point under a
small guard while we follow the renegades. The scouts report many
signs toward the Black Mesa, and we shall strike wherever we find
the hostiles, but I shall have but twenty-five men with me now, and
barely forty rounds per man. Instructions sent by bearer may reach
me among the foothills toward Diamond Butte. Otherwise, we shall
return by the way we came. Trooper Hanson, died of wounds in the
affair previously reported, was buried here.

Respectfully,

TURNER, Commanding.

"Then the other runner failed to get in," said Archer gravely. "There
was a fight before this. Turner's found a raft of Indians