She capered about the room, licked our hands and faces, jumped up to
the noses of the ponies, and behaved as if she was conscious of
having performed a great feat and was overjoyed to have returned
safely.

But Vic surrendered to the boy at last, and, submitting her neck for
inspection, he found attached to her collar a letter which read as
follows:

"CAMP AT LOS VALLES GRANDES.

"_November 20, 1863_.

"Lieutenant,--Message received, and the messenger fed.
Corporal Coffey and eight men leave here at 10.15 P.M.

"JAMES MULLIGAN, _Sergeant_."

"Come here, little doggie," said Sergeant Cunningham. "If we get out
of this, the company shall pay for a silver collar and a medal of
honor for the finest dog in the army."

"If that detail marches at the regulation gait of three miles an
hour," I said, "it should be here by a quarter-past one, and it is now
a quarter to twelve."

My anxiety over our prospects was so great I neglected to show proper
gratitude to our devoted messenger.

"The men will do better than that, sir, if they keep on the road. The