out expecting to bury the whole kit of
you. Here's Clayley, too. Clayley, your friend Twing's with us; you'll
find him in the rear."

"Ha! Clayley, old boy!" cried Twing, coming up; "no bones broken? all
right? Take a pull; do you good--don't drink it all, though--leave a
thimbleful for Haller there. How do you like that?"

"Delicious, by Jove!" ejaculated Clayey, tugging away at the major's
flask.

"Come, Captain, try it."

"Thank you," I replied, eagerly grasping the welcome flask.

"But where is old Bios? killed, wounded, or missing?"

"I believe the major is not far off, and still uninjured."

I despatched a man for the major, who presently came up, blowing and
swearing like a Flanders trooper.

"Hilloa, Bios!" shouted Twing, grasping him by the hand.

"Why, bless me, Twing, I'm glad to see you!" answered Blossom, throwing
his arms around the diminutive major. "But where on earth is your
pewter?" for during the embrace he had been groping all over Twing's
body for the flask.

"Here, Cudjo! That flask, boy!"

"Faith, Twing, I'm near choked; we've been fighting all day--a devil of
a fight! I chased a whole squad of the cursed scoundrels on Hercules,
and came within a squirrel's jump of riding right into their nest.
We've killed dozens; but Haller will tell you all. He's a good fellow,
that Haller; but he's too rash--rash as blazes! Hilloa, Hercules! glad
to see you again, old fellow; you had a sharp brush for it."

"Remember your promise, Major," said I, as the major stood patting
Hercules upon the shoulder.

"I'll do better, Captain. I'll give you a choice between Hercules and a
splendid black I have. Faith! it's hard to part with you, old Herky,
but I know the captain will like the black better: he's the handsomest
horse in the whole army; bought him from poor Ridgely, who was killed at
Monterey."

This speech of the major was delivered partly in soliloquy, partly in an
apostrophe to Hercules, and partly to myself.

"Very well, Major," I replied. "I'll take the black. Mr Clayley,
mount the men on their mules: you will take command of the company, and
proceed with Colonel Rawley to camp. I shall go myself for the Don."

The last was said in a whisper to Clayley.

"We may not get in before noon to-morrow. Say nothing of my absence to
anyone. I shall make my report at noon tomorrow."

"And, Captain--" said Clayley.

"Well, Clayley?"

"You will carry back my--."

"What? To w