So engrossed was Hamlin with these thoughts that he hardly realized that some one had lifted the window curtain cautiously. The beam of light flashed across him, disappearing before he could lift his head to ascertain the cause. Then a voice spoke, and he leaned back to listen.
"Not there; gone back to the dance likely, while we were at the bar."
"Nobody out there?" this fellow growled his words.
"Some soldier asleep with his head on the rail; drunk, I reckon. Who was she with this time?"
"Barrett."
"Who? Oh, yes, the fellow who brought in that troop of the Seventh. Lord, the old girl is getting her hooks into him early. Well, as long as Gaskins is laid up, she may as well amuse herself somewhere else. Barrett is rather a good looker, isn't he? Do you know anything about the man? Has he got any stuff?"
"Don't know," answered the gruff voice. "He 's a West Pointer. Vera likes to amuse herself once in a while; that's the woman of it. Heard from Gaskins to-night?"
"Oh, he 's all right," the man laughed. "That little prick frightened him though. Shut up like a clam."
"So I heard. He 'll pay to keep the story quiet, all right. As soon as he is well enough to come down here, we 'll tap his bundle. Swore he was shot by a cavalry sergeant, did n't he?"
"And sticks to it like a mule. Must have it in for that fellow. Well, it helped our get-a-way."