"'Old woman,' said the Sergeant with a chuckle, 'your private fixin's as you call 'em, are worth hunting for.'
"But the old woman had reached the side of a bed, and was too much engaged in holding her toe, to notice the remark.
"The other beds were searched, but with no success. I had noticed while the old woman was hopping about a short fat woman getting behind some taller
ones in the corner and arranging her clothing. The old woman's contrivance made me think the corner worth looking at.
"The women sulkily and slowly gave way, and another pillow-case was found on the floor, from which a brace of pistols, one pair of long cowhide riding boots, three heavy-bladed bowie knives, and some smaller matters, were obtained.
"The wardrobe was the only remaining thing, and on it as a centre the women had doubled their columns.
"'Oh, Captain, don't,' said several at once beseechingly, 'we're all single women, and that has our frocks and fixin's in it,' as I touched the wardrobe.
"'As far as I've seed there is not much difference between married women's fixin's and single ones,' coolly said the Sergeant.
"'There is not one of us married, Captain.'
"'Sorry for that,' said the Sergeant, leisurely eyeing the women. 'If you'd take advice from a Yankee, some of you had better hurry up.'