The captain was a talkative fellow, and during the twenty years of his life that he had passed on the plains and among the wild Indians he had gained a world of information, and accumulated an almost inexhaustible fund of stories which he was ready to tell for the benefit of younger officers. He related one after another of his anecdotes during the march to the fort; and when at last the whitewashed stockade came into full view and Lieutenant Parker rode through the wide gate, he saw that the teamsters and soldiers stopped and raised their hats to him, a thing they had never done before. Parker was popular among the soldiers; for, although he was very strict,—as much so as the colonel himself,—and tried as hard to make his men “toe the mark,” when off duty he was “hail-fellow well met” with everybody. The captain and Parker came out from behind the wagon to see their men come into line in front of the colonel’s headquarters, and then dismounted and went in to report.
“I have returned, sir,” said the captain. “I found the lieutenant coming along the prairie all right. He had some experience with the Sioux, but he came on ahead as though there was nothing there.”
“Very good, sir,” said the colonel. “You may dismiss your men.” Then, unbending a little from his official dignity, he held out his hand to Parker and smiled upon him over his gold spectacles. “Well, my boy, I am glad to see that you have returned all right.”
“I have returned, sir,” said Parker, not forgetting that part of his duty, “and I have a wagonful of game.”
“Well, now, go on and tell me something about those Sioux you met. Were they a large party?”
“I did not see all of them, sir; not more than a dozen. The chief made signs that he wanted to talk to me, but I sent him back. I thought if he wanted to talk to anybody he could come down here and talk to you. He knew where your headquarters were as well as I did.”
“There were a good many more than a dozen men in that party,” said the colonel. “That was the reason I sent the captain out after you. Have you had sleep enough?”
“Yes, sir, all I want,” said Parker, who now thought he was about to hear of the additional business the colonel had for him to do.
“Can you go without sleep to-night?”
“Yes, sir, and for forty-eight hours longer.”