ds to explain the situation and secure eventually the peace
always so readily accorded. Placing a guard over the unconsumed
property, and sending most of the cavalry in pursuit of the renegades,
Stone telegraphed brief statement to department headquarters, lauding
Ray and his plucky detachment as they deserved, and Dwight and the
squadron as well, for their swift and skillful dash to the rescue. By
sunset the few dead, the several wounded and many homeless women and
children had been conveyed to the fort, Silver Hill turning out in
force, and the Argenta and rival stables contributing rigs in abundance.
Major Dwight was again beneath the same roof with little Jim, the father
well-nigh as helpless as the fever-stricken boy, for, the excitement
over, his duty done and splendidly done, and he himself shocked and
shaken by the fall of his horse, shot down almost at the last moment of
the charge, Dwight was brought back in the ambulance and assisted again
to his reclining chair in the den. Home he quietly refused to go. Mrs.
Dwight, as was proper and decorous, so soon as she could rally, under
the ministrations of Felicie, from the prostration that befell as a
result of seeing her adored, though deluded, husband riding off to
battle without ever a word or kiss to his suffering one, lost little
time in coming to implore her Oswald to return to his own room and her
arms. But Dr. Waring gravely told her it was then impossible, and
persuaded her, deluged in tears, to leave him in peace. Her parents, he
said, would soon be with her. They had been telegraphed for, and were to
start at once. Every provision should be made for their comfort and
hers, and, he added, for her future; but she must understand that for
the time being Major Dwight begged to be permitted to give his entire
attention to his son, whose case was desperate.

So Inez, veiled and leaning heavily on the arm of Felicie, went sobbing
homeward through the dusk of the closing and solemn day, followed by
many curious eyes, and was once more within doors before Sandy Ray had
been restored to his mother's arms. Not until the last of his "forlorn
hope" had been gathered up and shipped back to Minneconjou would Sandy
consent to be driven thither himself, to find almost every door at the
post open to welcome him except his own, where there were now three or
four more denizens than there were beds. Stone himself was on hand to
say that Mrs. Stone had one of their spare rooms