have my say. There are men who don't know the Army
Contractor," he added darkly, "who mebbe have heard of 'Red Jim.' I
don't mention names, gentlemen, but only the other day a man that
you all know says to me, 'If I only knew what you do about scoutin' I
wouldn't be wanting for information as I do.' I ain't goin' to say who
it was, or break any confidences between gentlemen by saying how many
stars he had on his shoulder strap; but he was a man who knew what he
was saying. And I say agin, gentlemen, that the curse of the Northern
Army is the want of proper scoutin'. What was it caused Bull's
Run?--Want o' scoutin'. What was it rolled up Pope?--Want o' scoutin'.
What caused the slaughter at the Wilderness?--Want o' scoutin'--Ingin
scoutin'! Why, only the other day, gentlemen, I was approached to know
what I'd take to organize a scoutin' force. And what did I say?--'No,
General; it ain't because I represent one of the largest Army Beef
Contracts in this country,' says I. 'It ain't because I belong, so to
speak, to the "Sinews of War;" but because I'd want about ten thousand
trained Ingins from the Reservations!' And the regular West Point,
high-toned, scientific inkybus that weighs so heavily on our army don't
see it--and won't have it! Then Sherman, he sez to me"--

But here a roar of laughter interrupted him, and in the cross fire of
sarcastic interrogations that began Brant saw, with relief, a chance
of escape. For in the voice, manner, and, above all, the characteristic
temperament of the stranger, he had recognized his old playmate and the
husband of Susy,--the redoubtable Jim Hooker! There was no mistaking
that gloomy audacity; that mysterious significance; that magnificent
lying. But even at that moment Clarence Brant's heart had gone out, with
all his old loyalty of feeling, towards his old companion. He knew that
a public recognition of him then and there would plunge Hooker into
confusion; he felt keenly the ironical plaudits and laughter of his
officers over the manifest weakness and vanity of the ex-teamster,
ex-rancher, ex-actor, and husband of his old girl sweetheart, and would
have spared him the knowledge that he had overheard it. Turning hastily
to the orderly, he bade him bring the stranger to his headquarters, and
rode away unperceived.

He had heard enough, however, to account for his presence there, and the
singular chance that had brought them again together. He was evidently
one of those large civ