"Cut Finger is bad company for your son."
"I know it; but they are blood-brothers, as is the way of young men. Where one is, there the other is also."
Maynard and Jennie were not as deeply interested in the camp as they had given out to be at starting. He was recalling to her mind some of the parties they had attended together at Fort Sibley. "Really, Captain Maynard," she was saying, as they rode up, "you would have it appear that we saw a great deal of each other in those days."
"That's my contention entirely," he replied, "and it is my intention to continue this Indian outbreak indefinitely in order to go into cantonment here."
"You always were susceptible to good dinners, Captain Maynard."
"Say good company, and you'll be right entirely."
Curtis, having caught Maynard's last remark, called out in the biting tone of the upper classman at West Point.
"Are you on special duty, Captain Maynard, or riding in the park?"
He saluted imperturbably. "By good luck I am doing both, at your service."
"Merely cast your eye around so that you can report the Tetongs peaceful and in camp, then you may ride where you please."