He shook his head.

“I would be a fool to hope; I have been in the army too long.”

They were still for a minute, the girl’s fingers toying with the flap of the haversack, her eyes gazing across the river.  He thought they were misty.

“I am sorry you are so prejudiced,” she said at last slowly, “for I am not like that at all.  I am not going to be ashamed of a friend because he—­he is in the ranks.  I shall be only the more proud.  What is your full name?”

He passed his hand over his hair, and laughed.

“They call me ‘Brick’ Hamlin—­a subtle reference to this crown of glory.”

“But it is n’t red,” she insisted swiftly.  “Only it shows a little bright with the sun on it, and I am not going to call you that.  I don’t like nicknames.  What did they call you before you went into the army?  When—­when you did know good women?”

The Sergeant bent his head, and then lifted his gray eyes to the girl’s face.

“I had almost forgotten,” he confessed, “but I’ll tell you—­David Carter Hamlin; there, you have all of it—­my mother called me Dave—­could you, once?”

“Could I?” laughingly.  “Why, of course; now, Dave, we will have breakfast.”

“And I am quite ready for it—­Molly.”

The girl’s cheeks reddened, but their eyes met, and both laughed.

CHAPTER XI

A REMEMBRANCE OF THE PAST

Moylan must have had Miss McDonald in mind when he had stocked up with food at Fort Dodge, and had therefore chosen all the delicacies to be found at that frontier post.  These were not extensive, consisting largely of canned goods, which, nevertheless, made a brave show, and were clearly enough not the ordinary fare of the border.  Hamlin had to smile at the array, but Molly handled each article almost with reverence, tears dimming her eyes in memory.

“He—­he bought these for me,” she said softly, and looking across reproachfully at the Sergeant.  “It was the best he could do.”

“I was not laughing at poor Moylan; only, I fear, he had a wrong conception of a girl’s needs on the trail.  But I reckon our combined appetites are equal to it.”

“I do not feel as though I could swallow a mouthful.”

“Under orders you will try.  We have a hard day before us, young lady, and some tramping to do afoot.  I wish I knew where that horse I turned loose last night has drifted to; into the bluffs, probably, where the grass is green.  He would be of some help just now.  Try this, Miss McDonald, for lack of something better.  I yearn for ham and coffee, but hardly dare build a fire yet.  The smoke would be seen for miles away.”

“If we were across the river we could use the stage fire.”

“Yes, but there is a wide river flowing between.  Don’t be afraid of that trip,” noting the expression of her face.  “It will be easy enough to cross back by daylight, now that I know where the danger spots are.”