he questioned sharply.

Hamlin's heart leaped into his throat, but he held himself motionless.

"They were indistinguishable, sir; mere shadows. Have you reason to
suspect there may have been a woman involved?"

The Major leaned back in his chair, but the commandant, after a glance
at his officer, answered:

"The pistol used was a small one, such as a woman might carry, and
there are marks of a woman's shoe plainly visible at the edge of the
ravine. Lieutenant Gaskins was alone when he left the officers' club
five minutes before the firing began. You are sure you have never had
any controversy with this officer?"

"Perfectly sure, sir. We have never met except on the one occasion
already referred to, and then scarcely a dozen words were exchanged."

"How then, Sergeant," and the Colonel spoke very soberly, "do you
account for his denouncing you as his assassin?"

"I presumed he was influenced by my arrest, sir; that the shock had
affected his brain."

"That supposition will hardly answer. The Lieutenant is not severely
wounded, and this morning appears to be perfectly rational. Yet he
insists you committed the assault; even refers to you by name."

The accused man pressed one hand to his forehead in bewilderment.

"He still insists I shot him?"

"Yes; to be frank, he 's rather bitter about it, and no facts we have
brought to bear have any apparent weight. He swears he recognized your
face in the flare of the first discharge."

The Sergeant stood silent, motionless, his gaze on the Colonel's face.

"I do not know what to say, sir," he answered finally. "I was not
there, and you all know it from the men of my troop. There has been no
trouble between Lieutenant Gaskins and myself, and I can conceive of no
reason why he should desire to involve me in this affair--unless," he
paused doubtfully; "unless, sir, he really knows who shot him, and is
anxious to shift the blame elsewhere to divert suspicion."

"You mean he may be seeking to shield the real culprit?"

"That is the only explanation that occurs to me, sir."

The Colonel stroked his beard nervously, his glance wandering to the
faces of the other officers.

"That might be possible," he acknowledged regretfully, "although I
should dislike to believe any officer of my command would be
deliberately guilty of so despicable an act. However, all we can do
now is endeavor to uncover the truth. You are discharged from arrest,
Sergeant Hamlin, and