to be like out here. There was not a rumor of
Indian trouble a month ago, and when the tribes did break out it was
too late for me to get word back East. The fact is, I am in the devil
of a fix--without even an officer whom I can send to meet her, or turn
her back. If I should go myself it would mean a court-martial."

Travers stared into the darkness through the open door, sucking at his
pipe.

"By George, you are in a pickle," he acknowledged slowly. "I supposed
she had been headed off long ago. Have n't heard you mention the
matter since we first got here. Where do you suppose the lass is by
now?"

"Near as I can tell she would leave Ripley the 18th."

"Humph! Then starting to-night, a good rider might intercept her at
Fort Dodge. She would be in no danger travelling alone for that
distance. The regular stages are running yet, I suppose?"

"Yes; so far as I know."

"Under guard?"

"Only from the Caches to Fort Union; there has been no trouble along
the lower Arkansas yet. The troops from Dodge are scouting the country
north, and we are supposed to keep things clear of hostiles down this
way."

"Supposed to--yes; but we can't patrol five hundred miles of desert
with a hundred men, most of them dough-boys. The devils can break
through any time they get ready--you know that. At this minute there
is n't a mile of safe country between Dodge and Union. If she was my
daughter--"

"You 'd do what?" broke in McDonald, jumping to his feet. "I 'd give
my life to know what to do!"

"Why, I'd send somebody to meet her--to turn her back if that was
possible. Peyton would look after her there at Ripley until you could
arrange."

"That's easy enough to say, Travers, but tell me who is there to send?
Do you chance to know an enlisted man out yonder who would do--whom you
would trust to take care of a young girl alone?"

The Captain bent his head on one hand, silent for some minutes.

"They are a tough lot, Major; that's a fact, when you stop to call the
roll. Those recruits we got at Leavenworth were mostly
rough-necks--seven of them in the guard-house to-night. Our best men
are all out," with a wave of his hand to the south. "It's only the
riff-raff we 've got left, at Devere."

"You can't go?"

The Captain rubbed his lame leg regretfully.

"No; I 'd risk it if I could only ride, but I could n't sit a saddle."

"And my duty is here; it would cost me my commission."

There was a long though