the miners. Bob Parker was the most terrific fighter in the whole
company. He was one of those men, occasionally seen, who was
absolutely without fear. He would have stood up alone and fought the
other eight. During that single week in Sacramento, he gained the name
of a terror and caused a sigh of relief on the part of the authorities
when he left for the mountains.

The corporal always fired to kill, and his skill with rifle and pistol
was marvelous. While talking with Colonel Briggs, he fixed his
brilliant black eyes on him, as if to intimate that he had selected
_him_ for his pet antagonist. All this was disconcerting.

In this crisis, when every nerve was drawn tense and the question of
life and death hung on the passing of a breath, Colonel Briggs leaned
backward and elevating his chin in the way that had become familiar,
emitted one of his resounding laughs. Then he abruptly snapped his
jaws together like the springing of a trap.

"Why, Bob, this puts a different face on things," he said cheerily;
"if the man's a friend of yours, of course we can't quarrel with
him."

"I rather think not," replied the corporal.

"I was in the army myself," added the colonel, "but didn't stay long;
me and General Grant couldn't agree as to how the war should be run,
and one night when no one was around, I resigned and left."

"Then you didn't win your title in the service," remarked Captain
Dawson, who felt that he could afford to show good will, now that the
situation had taken so remarkable a turn.

"Scarcely; the boys think that no officer lower than a colonel is fit
to command this crowd, so that's how I got the handle."

Captain Dawson could not forbear saying:

"I think it much more befitting that a true and tried soldier, like
Corporal Parker, should be in your place."

"It was offered to me," said the corporal, "but I refused it."

"No; we agreed to make him a full-fledged major-general, but he
declined the honor with some sarcastic remarks," said the colonel;
"howsumever, boys, now that things have been straightened out, do you
intend to go with the captain or with us?"

Corporal Parker addressed his two comrades.

"Wheel and salute!"

They faced their animals around, and, taking the cue from the
corporal, made an elaborate military salutation to Captain Dawson and
his companions. Then they wheeled again and rode back to their former
places.

"With my best regards," added the colonel, also saluting, wh