t that. He cannot be said to say anything; but he was wonderfully
affected over your rescuing him,--strangely so, one of the nurses
persists in telling me, though the steward and Mrs. Clancy declare it
was just drink and excitement. Still, I have drawn from him that he knew
you well by sight during that campaign; but he says he was not by when
Hull was killed."

"Does he act as though he knew anything that could throw any light on
the matter?"

"I cannot say. His wife declares he has been queer all winter,--hard
drinking,--and of course that is possible."

"Sam told me there was a soldier here two nights ago who wanted to talk
with me, but the man was drunk, and he would not let him in or tell me.
He thought he wanted to borrow money."

"I declare, I believe it was Clancy!" said the doctor. "If he wants to
see you and talk, let him. There's no telling but what even a
drink-racked brain may bring the matter to light."

And long that night Mr. Hayne sat there thinking, partly of what the
doctor had said, but more of what had occurred during the late
afternoon. Midnight was called by the sentries. He went to his door and
looked out on the broad, bleak prairie, the moonlight glinting on the
tin roofing of the patch of buildings over at the station far across the
dreary level and glistening on the patches of snow that here and there
streaked the surface. It was all so cold and calm and still. His blood
was hot and fevered. Something invited him into the peace and purity of
the night. He threw on his overcoat and furs, and strolled up to the
gateway, past the silent and deserted store, whose lighted bar and
billiard-room was generally the last thing to close along Prairie
Avenue. There was not a glimmer of light about the quarters of the
trader or the surgeon's beyond. One or two faint gleams stole through
the blinds at the big hospital, and told of the night-watch by some
fevered bedside. He passed on around the fence and took a path that led
to the target-ranges north of the post and back of officers' row,
thinking deeply all the while; and finally, re-entering the garrison by
the west gate, he came down along the hard gravelled walk that passed in
circular sweeps the offices and the big house of the colonel commanding
and then bore straight away in front of the entire line. All was
darkness and quiet. He passed in succession the houses of the
field-officers of the cavalry, looked longingly at the darkened front of
Ma