"Drive according to your instructions," he said to the driver; and the door was closed upon them. As they started away, Cobb turned to the glass window, raised his hand gently toward his old quarters and murmured sadly: "Good-bye! good-bye!" Away they rattled down the road toward the main gate. "It's a bad night, Craft." Cobb's voice was hard and forced, but it was evident that he was desirous of bringing his thoughts to other things. "Yes, indeed it is; but good for us, nevertheless. How much warmer and drier are we in this hack than if we were outside to-night!" trying to put his thoughts into another channel. "Number two! Half-past eleven o'clock--and all's well!" "Number three! Half-past eleven o'clock--and all's well!" And the cry was repeated on to all the posts, the answers coming clear and sweet to this poor, departing soul. As the last sentinel gave his call, the carriage passed through the outer gate by the main guardhouse, where number one was walking his lonely and solitary beat. As they passed the porch, the sentinel repeated the round of posts, crying, in a sharp and pleasing tone: "A-l-l's well!" "A good omen, by the gods!" and Cobb half sprang up in his seat. "A good omen, and it is for me! I feel it! I know it! Away, then, with all sorrow, and let me feel that this is my bridal trip, instead of my funeral voyage. Come, Craft, we are clear of the post; sing me the old song of 'Benny Havens.' It will cheer us up and I want to hear the words once more." "All right!" and soon Craft's soft, melodious voice swelled forth in the strains of that old song so dear to the hearts of every man from West Point. Softly, but with power, came the words: "Come, fill your glasses, fellows, and stand up in a row; To singing sentimentally, we're going for to go. In the army there's sobriety promotion's very slow; So we'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, oh!" And then Cobb's full voice joined in the chorus; "Oh Benny Havens, oh! Oh! Benny Havens, oh! So we'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, oh!" As the last words of the chorus were sung, the lamps of California street shot their rays into the carriage. On they went, but a silence again ensued, and neither spoke until the hack had reached McAllister street. Here Cobb caused the driver to pull up, and alighted, telling Craft to continue on until he came to where Hathaway was waiting for him. He was then to transfer the iron box into the express wagon, dismiss the hack, and send on the team. "You will find me at the appointed place," he said, as he passed down the hill.