t was--the largest and most dominant window in that part of
the building--and within it, a distinct and vivid object almost filling
the opening, was the vase of flowers, which he had a few hours ago
removed, RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION! He smiled. The hurried
entrance and consternation of Miss Faulkner were now fully explained.
He had interrupted some impassioned message, perhaps even countermanded
some affectionate rendezvous beyond the lines. And it seemed to settle
the fact that it was she who had done the signaling! But would not this
also make her cognizant of the taking of the dispatch-box? He reflected,
however, that the room was apparently occupied by the mulatto woman--he
remembered the calico dresses and turban on the bed--and it was possible
that Miss Faulkner had only visited it for the purpose of signaling
to her lover. Although this circumstance did not tend to make his mind
easier, it was, however, presently diverted by a new arrival and a
strange recognition.

As he rode through the camp a group of officers congregated before a
large mess tent appeared to be highly amused by the conversation--half
monologue and half harangue of a singular-looking individual who stood
in the centre. He wore a "slouch" hat, to the band of which he had
imparted a military air by the addition of a gold cord, but the brim was
caught up at the side in a peculiarly theatrical and highly artificial
fashion. A heavy cavalry sabre depended from a broad-buckled belt under
his black frock coat, with the addition of two revolvers--minus their
holsters--stuck on either side of the buckle, after the style of a stage
smuggler. A pair of long enameled leather riding boots, with the tops
turned deeply over, as if they had once done duty for the representative
of a cavalier, completed his extraordinary equipment. The group were so
absorbed in him that they did not perceive the approach of their chief
and his orderly; and Brant, with a sign to the latter, halted only a few
paces from this central figure. His speech was a singular mingling
of high-flown and exalted epithets, with inexact pronunciation and
occasional lapses of Western slang.

"Well, I ain't purtendin' to any stratutegical smartness, and I didn't
gradooate at West Point as one of those Apocryphal Engineers; I don't
do much talking about 'flank' movements or 'recognizances in force' or
'Ekellon skirmishing,' but when it comes down to square Ingin fightin',
I reckon I kin