In trotted Vic, and, coming up to me, she dropped a stick at my feet bearing the words: "In the collar, as before."
It took some little time for Corporal Frank to secure the messenger. 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.