"That's all very well," answers Rayner; "but I wouldn't want to carry
any such sum with me."

"It's different with Hull's men, captain. They are ordered in through
the posts and settlements. They have a three weeks' march ahead of them
when they get through their scout, and they want their money on the way.
It was only after they had drawn it that the news came of the Indians'
crossing and of our having to jump for the warpath. Everybody thought
yesterday morning that the campaign was about over so far as we are
concerned. Halloo! here comes young Hayne. Now, what does _he_ want?"

Riding a quick, nervous little bay troop horse, a slim-built officer,
with boyish face, laughing blue eyes, and sunny hair, comes loping up
the long prairie wave; he shouts cheery greeting to one or two brother
subalterns who are plodding along beside their men, and exchanges some
merry chaff with Lieutenant Ross, who is prone to growl at the luck
which has kept him afoot and given to this favored youngster a "mount"
and a temporary staff position. The boy's spirits and fun seem to jar on
Rayner's nerves. He regards him blackly as he rides gracefully towards
the battalion commander, and with decidedly nonchalant ease of manner
and an "off-hand" salute that has an air about it of saying, "I do this
sort of thing because one has to, but it doesn't really mean anything,
you know," Mr. Hayne accosts his superior:

"Ah, good-evening, captain. I have just come back from the front, and
Captain Hull directed me to give you his compliments and say that we
would camp in the bend yonder, and he would like you to post strong
pickets and have a double guard to-night."

"Have _me_ post double guards! How the devil does he expect me to do