opened-eyed, at the witness. For the
life of him Sumter could not suppress a chuckle.

"Then, as I understand it, you were favorably impressed with the
life--and conditions?"

"In spite of hardship and privation, yes, sir; and because I found
complete refutation of the stories about the officers, both as regarded
their dealing with the Indians and with their own men."

"Were there any persons with the command who knew you and your mission?"

"Two, sir, as it turned out. Trooper Cary, who enlisted at the same time
I did, and a civilian, Mr. Lowndes, who recognized us at Fort Frayne. We
were at college together. He and Cary became very intimate toward the
last, and yet I think they kept my secret in spite of our falling out."

"Do you care to tell us why you fell out?"

"I prefer that Mr. Lowndes should do that. He and Cary had been chums in
college days, and though we were in the same society I did not know them
then as I do now."

"You had trouble with Sergeant Fitzroy at first, did you not?"

"Almost from the start, sir."

"We have heard his version. What is yours?"

Rawdon's frank face clouded and colored one moment, but the eyes never
flinched.

"It was partly on account of the lady who is now my wife, and partly on
account of--money. Fitzroy is an out-and-out usurer, and has a dozen
sergeants in the regiment in his debt and under his thumb, Captain
Snaffle's first sergeant among them."

"It's a lie!" said Snaffle.

"It's the truth," said Riggs, "and I have other proofs. You will curb
your tongue and your temper, Captain Snaffle, if you please. Go on,
Rawdon."

"I had reason to believe he was squeezing Doctor Mayhew. I had learned
to love Mayhew's daughter. I had a little money laid by, and was getting
a good salary. I made Doctor Mayhew take enough to free himself, and won
Fitzroy's hate on both accounts."

"You are accused of assaulting him the night of the 16th. What of that?"

"I did not even see him or speak to him. I had been in town in the
afternoon, arranging for our marriage. Doctor Mayhew would not hear of
it until I had got my discharge, but we had decided to be married
Saturday morning, and to go East that afternoon, as important business
called me. Mr. Lowndes will tell you that he owed me much money. I had
lost my position as correspondent, needed the cash, and pressed him for
it. He had promised faithfully to have it ready, but ready it was not. I
knew of his relatives in Massachus