istow had not so promptly entered upon the discussion of
the subject of desertion, Bob would have made his presence known to him;
but after he had listened to the first words that fell from his lips he
thought it best to remain quietly in his place of concealment, for he
knew that if he revealed himself, then he would be accused of playing
the part of eavesdropper.

"Now, here's a go!" thought Bob, rising to his feet when he saw Bristow
and his two friends walk through the gate into the fort, "and I wish
somebody would be kind enough to tell me what I ought to do about it.
Shall I stand quietly by and let them go, or shall I tell the officers
what I have heard? If I let them go, they will run the risk of being
gobbled up by that party of Kiowas who are now raiding the country north
of us; and if I tell the colonel, and it should ever be found out on me,
I should lead a hard life in the quarters. I wish I had been somewhere
else when they came here."

Thrusting his hands deep into his pockets, Bob left the ruins, and,
walking slowly around the stockade, entered at a gate on the opposite
side. His first care was to hunt up the sergeant-major of his regiment,
whom he found in the quarters. This man had grown gray in the service,
and he was a soldier all over--brave, faithful and untiring in the
performance of his duty. He readily responded to Bob's significant wink,
and followed him out on the parade.

"Sergeant," said Bob as soon as they were beyond earshot of everybody,
"I have accidentally come into the possession of a secret, and I don't
know what to do with it. There are thirty men in the garrison who are
going to desert to-night."

The old fellow took a fresh chew of tobacco, pushed his cap on the back
of his head and looked at Bob, who, after telling him where he had been
and how he happened to overhear the plot, continued:

"It would never do to let them go. You know I was detailed to act as the
colonel's orderly this morning, and I heard that scout who came in just
before noon tell him that there is a large party of hostiles between
here and Fort Tyler. These deserters intend to take their weapons with
them, and think they can make a good fight; but those Kiowas are strong
enough to annihilate them."

"Small loss that would be to us!" growled the veteran. "We are going to
have some hot work to do before long, and such men are no good in a
fight."

"It would never do to let them go," repeated Bob, "but ther