isions and ammunition. All not absolutely necessary
encumbrances were dispensed with, our camp equipage consisting of a few
iron pots, tin cups, and plates. Lieutenant Broadstreet had command of
the party, and he was directed to select a fit site for a new fort in
the neighbourhood of Roaring Water, to assist in holding the Arrapahas
in check for the future.

Not an hour was lost; and by sunrise, two days after our arrival, we
commenced our march. I had advised Manley to let me go ahead with a few
of the most experienced men, to act as scouts, that we might ascertain
whether the enemy still held the pass; but two days had gone by without
any signs of the Indians. The remains of their fires, however, showed
that they had been there not long before. At the end of the second day,
just as we were about to encamp, I caught sight of two figures coming
over the brow of a slight elevation. I rubbed my eyes; was it fancy, or
did I really see Klitz and Barney before me, precisely as I had seen
them on a previous occasion, when attempting to make their escape from
the farm? No doubt about it. There was Barney wheeling a barrow, and
Klitz, with a couple of muskets on his shoulder, marching behind him.
Had I been inclined to superstition, I might have supposed that I beheld
a couple of ghosts, or rather beings of another world; but I was
convinced, unless I was the victim of some optical delusion, that the
two worthies were there in flesh and blood.

I did what every one should do when there exists any doubt about a
matter,--I hastened forward to solve the mystery. No sooner did they see
me than Klitz dropped his muskets, and Barney, letting go the handles of
his wheel-barrow, stood gazing at me with open eyes and outstretched
hands.

"Arrah, now, it's the young masther himself!" exclaimed Barney; whilst
the German uttered an exclamation which I did not comprehend. "Sure,
now, we were afther thinking your honour was kilt intirely," continued
Barney. "Might I be so bold as to ax where your honour comes from now?"

"Let me inquire where you come from, and how you escaped from the
burning house," I said. "Although I am glad to see you, I would rather
you had rejoined your regiment."

"Sure, Mister Ralph dear, we were returned as dead, and it would have
been sore against our consciences to take sarvice under the
circumstances. But your honour was axin' how we escaped. Sure, when I
was hunting for the Redskin spy, didn't I find out