north, and we are supposed to keep things clear of hostiles down this
way."

"Supposed to--yes; but we can't patrol five hundred miles of desert
with a hundred men, most of them dough-boys. The devils can break
through any time they get ready--you know that. At this minute there
is n't a mile of safe country between Dodge and Union. If she was my
daughter--"

"You 'd do what?" broke in McDonald, jumping to his feet. "I 'd give
my life to know what to do!"

"Why, I'd send somebody to meet her--to turn her back if that was
possible. Peyton would look after her there at Ripley until you could
arrange."

"That's easy enough to say, Travers, but tell me who is there to send?
Do you chance to know an enlisted man out yonder who would do--whom you
would trust to take care of a young girl alone?"

The Captain bent his head on one hand, silent for some minutes.

"They are a tough lot, Major; that's a fact, when you stop to call the
roll. Those recruits we got at Leavenworth were mostly
rough-necks--seven of them in the guard-house to-night. Our best men
are all out," with a wave of his hand to the south. "It's only the
riff-raff we 've got left, at Devere."

"You can't go?"