nd by you in spite of
everything I've ever thought or heard. Steady!"

Somebody was at the door. Harris saw and checked the effusive thanks on
Willett's lips.

"What's that about 'Tonio?" said a ringing voice, as a "blouse" and
buttons followed the blue sleeve into the field of vision, and the
adjutant came slowly in. "Queer! D'you know I was thinking of him that
very minute. Signal fire out south-east! Some Indians want to talk and
afraid to come in. Turner's gone out with a squad to sample 'em.
Willett, how soon are you coming over? The general's got the despatches
ready."

"Right away, if you like! What's it now?"

"Ten twenty," said Strong, with a squint at his watch. "There's no
hurry. He's writing personals now, and Bentley's just up from the
store. There's news in of some kind from McDowell way, and Munoz and
Sanchez have jumped the game and quit. You'll probably have 'Patchie
guides after all, Willett. Going down to the store after awhile?"

"For a moment, perhaps, after I've said good-night at the general's,"
answered Willett, anxious now to end the business and be away. But in
came Bentley.

"Get back to the office, Strong," said he; "the general wants you;
Turner's in and says there's no one near the fire, no one to answer.
All they found was this. The general thought you might understand it,
Harris. It lay on a rock by the fire."

He held forth a single feather, gray and white, tied with a bit of pink
tape to a scrap of cardboard, torn from some cartridge case and folded
over. Within, roughly traced in paint, were two figures--a 3 and a 2.

"It means, 'Tonio," said Harris simply, "and he wants to talk. What has
happened that he should be afraid to come in--here?"

Willett heard and knew and would have stayed, but the doctor for once
looked embarrassed, and Strong signalled Willet to come with him. "I'll
be back presently, Hefty," said Willett significantly, and vanished.

Even then Bentley faltered. "I'll let the general answer that," said
he. "How can 'Tonio be summoned in?"

"Only as I did, at the Peak, and on honor that he may go," was the
answer. "Unless--I can go out to him."

"You can't--to-night, anyhow! Is there no one else he'll meet who can
understand him?"

"Only one American--Case."

"Humph!" was the answer, with a shrug and a keen, inquiring look in the
doctor's eyes. "I've shown it to Case, and he says 'Tonio has only one
object in life now, in or out of the post, and that is