however, the arrival of his wife may make him less a fire-eater."

"His wife?"

I stopped so suddenly that he involuntarily tightened his grip upon my
arm as though suspicious of an attempt to escape.

"Do you," I asked, gaining some slight control over myself, "refer to
the lady who came in with his party last evening?"

"Most certainly; she was presented to all of us as Mrs. Brennan, she
has been assigned rooms at his quarters, and she wears a wedding-ring.
Far too fine a woman in my judgment for such a master, but then that is
not so uncommon a mistake in marriage. Why, come to think about it, you
must have met her yourself. Have you reason to suspect this is not
their relationship?"

"Not in the least," I hastened to answer, fearful lest my thoughtless
exclamation might become the basis for camp gossip. "Indeed I was
scarcely in the lady's presence at all coming in, as I was left in
charge of the sergeant."

He looked at me keenly through the darkness.

"It seems somewhat curious to me that such deep enmity has grown up
between you two in so short a time. One almost suspects, as in most
cases, there may be a woman at the bottom of it."

I laughed carelessly.