n standing by
Chiquita, holding her by the bridle-rein and smoothing her neck, while
Vic nestled at her feet. She seemed very attractive at my first casual
glance, impressing me favorably. A blonde, possessed of abundant
flaxen tresses held in a band of blue ribbon, having a complexion
which her recent journey had tanned and sprinkled with abundant
freckles, but giving promise of rare beauty with added years and less
exposure to sun and wind. Her clothing was fashionably made and well
fitted, and her delicate feet were encased in neat boots and
stockings.

"Miss Arnold," said Henry, "permit me to introduce our quartermaster,
Lieutenant Duncan--and Mr. Duncan," continued the boy, "it gives me
pleasure to present to you Miss Brenda Arnold."

The quality, modulation, and refinement of the voice in which the girl
assured me of her pleasure in meeting me, confirmed my first
impression.

"But how did you make the acquaintance of Corporal Henry Burton, Miss
Arnold?" I asked.

"I was riding back from the fort, sir, where I had been to mail some
letters, and my pony, Gypsy, lost a shoe and came near falling. The
stumble caused me to drop a package, and Mr. Burton chanced to come up
and restore it to me, and he also picked up Gypsy's shoe. He
accompanied me to camp, and since we arrived has been giving me the
history of Vic, Sancho, and Chiquita."

"And that, of course, included something of the history of their
devoted attendants?"

"Yes, I have learned something of the gallant deeds of Corporals Frank
and Henry Burton and Lieutenant Duncan at Los Valles Grandes and on
the march here. When I meet Corporal Frank I shall know you all."

"He will present himself to-morrow, no doubt," I observed. "But about
that pony's shoe; do you want it reset?"

"Yes, but who can do it?"

"At our next camp, to-morrow, our soldier-blacksmith shall set it."

"But I do not belong to government, sir."

"But part of this government belongs to you," replied Henry. "I'll
lead Gypsy to the forge for you, and Private Sattler shall shoe her as
he does Chiquita, and polish the shoes, too."

The Arnold family history, gathered incidentally on the march, and at
a period later in my story, was briefly this: Brenda was the only
daughter of Mr. Arnold's only brother, and had been reared in a large
inland city of New York. Her father and mother had recently perished
in a yachting accident, and the young girl had been sent to her
paternal uncle in