train-guarding.

Presently Mr. Hayne appears, elastic and debonair as though he had not
been working like a horse all day. His voice sounds so full of cheer and
life that Hull looks up smilingly:

"Well, youngster, you seem to love this frontier life."

"Every bit of it, captain. I was cut out for the army, as father
thought."

"We used to talk it over a good deal in the old days when I was
stationed around Washington," answers Hull. "Your father was the warmest
friend I had in civil circles, and he made it very pleasant for me. How
little we thought it would be my luck to have you for quartermaster!"

"The fellows seemed struck all of a heap in the Riflers at the idea of
your applying for me, captain. I was ready to swear it was all on
father's account, and would have told them so, only Rayner happened to
be the first man to tackle me on the subject, and he was so crusty about
it I kept the whole thing to myself rather than give him any
satisfaction."

"Larry, my boy, I'm no preacher, but I want to be the friend to you your
father was to me. You are full of enthusiasm and life and spirits, and
you love the army ways and have made yourself very popular with the
youngsters, but I'm afraid you are too careless and independent where
the seniors are concerned. Rayner is a good soldier; and you show him
very scant respect, I'm told."