tarved little boy who hasn't had a mouthful in an hour--"

Monty was running on in this absurd way, yet holding his own in a three
cornered scramble for possession of a dish of berries he had pre-empted
from Dorothy's table; till, without saying anything, Helena calmly
walked up, took the disputed dish from the contestants and, shoving
Dolly aside to give up half her chair, sat down and began to eat them
herself.

"Two spoons with but a single dish! How touching!" cried Herbert, posing
in pretended admiration of the pair, yet covertly watching his chance to
add a third spoon to the two and get his own taste of the luxury.

Not but that all had been served likewise, at the regular meal earlier
in the day, and Monty's boasted appetite was but a part of the happy
foolishness of their youth and high spirits.

For they were all evidently greatly excited over something, and the talk
fell back upon "choice" and "points" and "colors" with a comparison of
manes and tails, till Dorothy sprang up, clapped her hands over her
ears, and demanded:

"One at a time! One at a time! Do tell me what you're all jabbering
about and be quick! Just because I was lazy--I admit it, all right--I
don't want to miss all the fun! Tell me!"

But her answer did not come from any of the lively group about her. A
shadow fell across the floor and Captain Lem appeared at the window.
Leaning his elbows on the low sill he surveyed the interior with a
quizzical smile, then observed:

"If everybody's et all they can and has got time for somethin' elst,
please to step over to the corral behind the Barracks. Time there was
somethin' doin'! Come on, Little One. I'd like to have you head the
procesh, for 'twas the Boss's orders, first pick for you. Hep, hep,
hep--march!"

CHAPTER IX

A MODERN HORSE FAIR

They departed as they had entered, by way of the window, Dorothy lifted
through it by her admiring Captain Lem, whose heart she had wholly won
by her music the night before, and by the deference she paid to his
talk. She was eager to find out the cause of all this excitement and
placed herself alongside him, as he led off with a military tread and
tensely squared shoulders. It wasn't for him to admit that rheumatism
commonly bowed those same shoulders, when he was "off duty" and secure
in the shelter of his own room.

"Hep, hep, hep,--hep," said the Captain marking time, and scowling at
the irregular pace of the excited youngsters behind her