"'Un' phwat church did he join?'
"Some one answered, the Universalist Church.
"'Ah, I see,' said Doyle, tossing off his drink, 'he's huntin' an aisy ford.' So I guess that's what Ermine is doing."
They soon joined the group of mounted officers and ladies, orderlies, and nondescripts of the camp, all alive with anticipations, and their horses stepping high.
"Good morning, Mr. Harding; how do you find yourself?" called out Captain Lewis.
"Fine—fine, thank you."
"How are you mounted?"
Harding patted his horse's neck, saying: "Quite well—a good beast; seems to manage my weight, but I find this saddle odd. Bless me, I know there is no habit in the world so strong as the saddle. I have the flat saddle habit."
"What we call a rim-fire saddle," laughed Searles, who joined the conversation.
"Ah—a rim-fire, do you call them? Well, do you know, Major, I should say this saddle was better adapted to carrying a sack of corn than a man," rejoined Harding.