and forced both ponies back
below the crest of the hill, his swift glance sweeping back over their
trail. Then he gazed again searchingly into the valley below.

"What is it?" she questioned.

"A moving column of horsemen, soldiers from their formation, for
Indians never march in column of fours. They are too far away for me
to be certain yet. What troops can be away out here?"

"Wasn't there to be a winter campaign against Black Kettle?" she
questioned. "It was the rumor at Dodge. Perhaps--"

"Why, yes, that must be it," he interrupted eagerly. "Custer and the
Seventh. What luck! And I'll be in it with the boys after all."

"Shall we not ride to meet them?"

"Soon, yes; only we need to be certain first."

"Are you not?" and she rose in her stirrups. "I am sure they are
cavalrymen. Now you can see clearly as they climb the hill."

"There is no doubt," he admitted, "a single troop ahead of the main
body; the others will be beyond the bend in the stream."

He stepped back, where he could look directly into her face.

"They are soldiers all right, but that was not what I wanted to be so
certain about. When we ride down there, Molly girl, we shall be
swallowed up into the old life once more, the old army life."

"Yes."

"Perhaps you do not realize how different it will all be from out here
alone together."

"Why should it be different?"

"I shall be again a soldier in the ranks, under orders, and you Major
McDonald's daughter."

"But--but--" her eyes full of appeal.

"No, little girl," he explained quickly, reaching up and touching her
gently; "we are never going to say anything about that to those down
there--his comrades in arms. It is going to be our secret. I am glad
you told me; it has brought us together as, perhaps, nothing else
could, but there is no reason why the world should ever know. Let them
think he died defending his trust. Perhaps he did; what you overheard
might have been said for a purpose, but, even if it were true, he had
been driven to it by a merciless woman. It is ours to defend, not
blacken his memory."

She bent slowly down until her cheek touched his.

"I--I thought you would say that," she returned slowly, "but what else
you said is not so--there will never again be a barrier of rank between
us." She straightened in the saddle, looking down into his eyes.
"Whoever the officer may be in command of that detachment, I want you
to tell him all."

"All?"

"Y