l him. When I got it all out, he
says to me, 'The white women ain't here; they're with the Wyomin' band,
and the Wyomin' band's up in Canada. Now,' he says, 'the band'll come
south in the spring. So tell Colonel Cummin's, if he don't do no
hangin', I'll send the white women home then.'"

A low groan came from behind the stove. Young Jamieson came out, his
features distorted with grief and shining with tears. "Think of it!
think of it! Not till spring! Are they well? How are they treating
them?"

"Oh,--so-so," said Matthews, significantly.

Young Jamieson understood. He went back to his seat, sobbing with the
hysterical weakness of a sick man. "He's bungled the business, Colonel,"
he said bitterly. "Oh, God! If you had only let _me_ go!"

"Yes, yes, my dear boy," answered the other, soothingly. "But please
remember that you couldn't have talked with them. The conference would
have been carried on through Mr. Matthews just the same."

There was a silence, broken only by Jamieson's weeping.

"Is that--all?" asked Colonel Cummings, at last, addressing himself to
the interpreter.

"Yes, sir."

Shortly afterward, when he was gone, the two officers left the library
for the reception-room, and discussed the expedition in low tones.

"I have a feeling, Colonel, that our interpreter wasn't fair in this
thing," was Captain Oliver's first confidence. They were standing at a
front window, watching Matthews cross the parade-ground to the
barber-shop.

"The same thought occurred to me."

"And yet--it doesn't seem possible----"

"Oh, if Bond had only come sooner!"

"Bond! He here?"

"Yes--just half a day too late."

While they were talking, Matthews was losing his tow beard and moustache
and a good length of hair. This over, and his supper eaten, he
reappeared at headquarters, and went with Colonel Cummings to the
stockade.

Much to his chagrin, he found the evangelist there, ready to be present
at the interview with the hostages. But the Indians understood his
predicament, and accepted the speech he made for the little it was
worth. It was a speech that, repeated by David Bond, set Colonel
Cummings' last suspicion at rest.

Lounsbury arrived at Fort Brannon the next day, appearing in time for
breakfast. His early advent, which he explained away nonchalantly, was
the cause of some good-natured teasing.

"Say, Lounsbury," observed one officer, "I thought you were keeping a
store."

"Get out!" he retorted. "I'm