n the good conduct grade,"
remarked Lieutenant Hampton, calling Hinkey's tireless industry to
Captain Cortland's attention.

"Then he'll have all the chance he wants," replied the captain. "We
don't want to keep any man down, or to give him a dog's name--with
apologies to the dog."

As Hinkey had been in a service detachment under Overton's command Hal
felt it but just to say to the fellow:

"Hinkey, you've worked harder and more attentively than any man in this
detachment."

"Thank you, Sergeant; I've tried to," replied the fellow, with such
well-pretended respect that Sergeant Hal almost fell over.

"I almost think I've misjudged the man in thinking him one of our
worst," Overton told himself.

It had been well for the boyish young sergeant had he been but a trifle
more suspicious of such sudden reform on his enemy's part!

At five in the morning, or almost an hour earlier than usual, every
officer and man in this temporary camp was routed out from under his
blankets by the sharp, stirring notes of first call to reveille.

Breakfast was hurriedly disposed of, and the simple duties of ordinary
"camp police" performed by the time that it was fully light.

And now more labor, for the stage settings must be arranged, that they
might all be moved swiftly into place as the need came.

It was noon when the men finished. Then mess call, or "come and get it,"
as the soldiers facetiously term it, was sounded over the camp, and
officer and man alike hastened to the well-earned midday meal.

"We ought to have a huge crowd," spoke Corporal Noll Terry, at camp
table.

"We ought to, but we won't," predicted Sergeant Hupner.

"Why not, Sergeant?"

"You didn't take a pass to go to town, last night?"

"No."

"I did."

"Well, Sergeant?"

"The town is billed from one end to another with posters of the show,"
continued Hupner.

"Meaning our tournament?"

"No, Terry. Of course, our show is billed, too, but the show I'm
alluding to is Howe and Spangleton's Great Combined Circuses."

"Are they showing in Denver to-day?" asked Sergeant Overton.

"Yes, siree," replied Hupner, with emphasis. "And you know what these
western towns are when a truly big circus works this far west. The
circus will be selling standing-room at double prices, and this show of
ours will be performed to two or three hundred small kids whose hearts
are broken because they didn't have the price of a circus ticket."

"We ought to have had som