Sim had passed to the other side of the premises,
where the little group of men who had come in the day previous, and had
pitched their tent in the yard, were engaged in laying up the logs of
the cabin which was to be the quarters of the men stationed here.
There were a half dozen of them in all, a corporal, four privates, and
a carpenter impressed from the Company forces to supervise the building.

"In a week you won't know the place, Sim," said the doctor. "They'll
run this house up in jig time. With two bunk rooms and a dining room
and a kitchen, there'll be plenty of room. I'll see that it's
furnished. Gardner can stay here until he gets time to build on his
own place. That girl that came out with me is a good sort, as
big-hearted as they make them. It's a godsend, her coming out. She
told me she could cook, and would be glad to have a job. If your wife
can keep busy, it will be all the better for them both."

"But now, I told you I'd put you on the pay roll, Gage," he concluded.
"I want you to act as a scout here, to keep watch on this road and the
cross road into the Reserve. When I was in town I got you a
hat--regulation O. D.,--with a green cord around it, as I told you. Go
on over to the car and get it--it's yours."

Sim walked slowly over to the car and peered in at the new head gear.
He took it up gingerly by the rim, regarding the green cord with
curiosity. Half reverently he placed it on his head. A vast new pride
came to him at that moment. Never before had he taken on any badge of
authority, known any sort of singling out or distinction in all his
drab, vague life. No power ever had sent to him a parchment engraved
"placing special confidence in your loyalty and discretion." But even
his mind divined that now in some way he did represent the authority
and government of his country, that some one had placed confidence in
his loyalty and discretion. If not, why this green cord on his hat?

"When you wear that, Gage," said Doctor Barnes sharply to him, "you
button up your shirt and roll down your sleeves, do you understand?
You shave and you wash clean every morning. You comb your hair and
keep it combed. If I'm cast away as Major of this desert island out
here I'm going to be the law and the gospel. And the first thing, Sim
Gage, that a soldier learns is to be neat. Think of that cord on your
hat!"

"Doc," said Sim Gage, "that's just what I am a-thinking of."

"Well, I've got to go