ge in one day."

But there had been, as we know, and a change as sudden was coming to the
current of events in the harmonious --th. Just after dark a courier on
jaded horse came riding in from the south. He brought telegraphic
despatches to the colonel and one to Major Stannard. The latter read his
by the light of his camp-lantern, gave a long whistle of amaze and
disgust, and sung out for Truscott as he rolled from under his blankets.
The trumpets were just sounding tattoo, and Stannard and other officers
had turned in early, preparatory to the start at four in the morning.
While waiting for Truscott's coming, the major could see that at the
colonel's tent there was also excitement and a gathering of several
officers. He had not long to wait. Truscott joined him in a few moments.

"I called you here because it was where we could talk unobserved. What
do you say to that?" And he handed him the despatch.

Truscott read without a word, and then stood there a moment earnestly
thinking, his lips firmly set, a dark shadow settling on life forehead.
The message was as follows:

"Ray arrested. Horse board charges cooked up here by Gleason.
Court ordered from Chicago. All staff or infantry officers.
Make Gleason name authorities before regiment.

"BLAKE."

Stannard had thrust his head forward and his hands into his
breeches-pockets.

"Now, isn't that simply damnable?" he asked.

"You do not believe Ray guilty, do you?" was Truscott's response.

"No, I don't," though there was hesitating accent on the don't. Stannard
hated to be thought unprepared for any trait in a fellow-man--good or
bad. "What can the charges be? Ray told me he had neither gambled nor
drank."

"Something has been received at the colonel's. Billings was there
opening and reading despatches when you called me." And Truscott nodded
thither.

"Come on. I'm going to see this thing through now," said Stannard, and
together they walked to headquarters.

The colonel, wrapped in his overcoat, was sitting up at the head of his
camp-bed noting with a pencil a few memoranda, while Billings was
reading aloud in a low voice some long despatches. Outside the tent were
grouped half a dozen officers, waiting for such news as the colonel
might give. Beyond them were the scattered and smouldering fires, the
rude shelter-tents of the men, the white tops of the army wagons; beyond
these the dark outlines of the massive hills; abov