“Dern yer o’ skin,” he said solemnly, but with a twinkle in his eyes, “ye ’re sure got the luck of it.  Ain’t seen ye afore fer two years.”

“That ’s right, Sam; down on the Cowskin, wasn’t it?  Who ’s over there?”

“Leftenant Gaskins, an’ some o’ the Fourth Cavalry, scoutin’ out o’ Dodge; been plum to ther mountings, an’ goin’ home ag’in.  Whut the hell (beggin’ yer pardin, mam) has happened yere?”

“I ’ll explain when we get across,” and Hamlin swung the haversack to his shoulder, and turned to the girl.  “This is Sam Wasson, Miss McDonald, a scout I have been out with before; let me help you into the saddle.”

CHAPTER XII

THE PARTING

They recrossed the stream carefully, the horses restless and hard to control in the current, the men riding on either side, grasping the bit of the girl’s mount.  Others had joined the little squad of troopers on the bank, and welcomed them with a cheer.  The Lieutenant dismounted.  At sight of the girl’s face he whipped off his hat, and came forward.

“Miss McDonald,” he said, pleasantly greeting her, “I am Lieutenant Gaskins, and I have met your father—­of the Sixth Infantry, is he not?  So glad to be of service, you know.  You were in the stage, I understand; a most remarkable escape.”

“I owe it all to Sergeant Hamlin,” she replied, turning to glance toward the latter.  “He bore me away unconscious in his arms.  Indeed, I scarcely realized what happened.  Do you know anything regarding my father?”

“Oh, yes, I can put your mind at ease so far as he is concerned.  I presume you were endeavoring to reach his post when this unfortunate affair occurred.”

“Yes.”

“Sheridan has ordered Devere abandoned for the present, and the Major’s troops are to return to Dodge.  No doubt we shall be in the field within a week or two.  But we can cultivate acquaintance later; now I must straighten out this affair.”  He bowed again, and turned stiffly toward Hamlin, who had dismounted, his manner instantly changing.  He was a short, heavily built man, cleanly shaven, with dark, arrogant eyes, and prominent chin.

“You are a sergeant of the Seventh, you said,” he began brusquely.  “What were you doing here?”

“My troop is stationed at Fort Union,” was the quiet response.  “I carried despatches to Devere, and while there was requested by Major McDonald to intercept his daughter and turn her back.”

“Were you subject to Major McDonald’s orders?”

“It was not an order, but a request.”

“Oh, indeed; a mere pleasure excursion.”

“It has hardly turned out that way, sir, and conditions seemed to justify my action.”

“That is for others to determine.  When was the attack made?”

“Just before sundown last evening.  The driver and guard escaped on the lead horses, and the wheelers ran away, wrecking the coach.”