The chief dropped his head on his hand and reflected. "It's a good twenty years, and I've been knocking about all over the West since then, but, I'd like to see Mrs. Hay and that young woman, Dade, whether we overhaul Bill or not. I must go on to Beecher at once." "You will wait for the cavalry from Laramie, will you not, sir?" asked the captain, anxiously. "I can't. I'll get a bath and breakfast and forty winks later; then see Mrs. Hay and Bill, if he is back. They ought to catch him before he reaches Sage Creek. There are your couriers now," he added, at the sound of spurred heels on the front piazza. The captain stepped forth into the hallway. A trooper stood at the front door, his hand lifted in salute. Another, in saddle, and holding the reins of his comrade's horse, was at the gate. A rustle of feminine drapery swept downward from the upper floor, and Dade glanced up, half dreading to see Esther's face. But it was his wife who peered over the balustrade. "I shall be down in ten minutes," she said, in low tone. "Esther is sleeping at last. How did--he--seem this morning?" "Sleeping, too, but only fitfully. Dr. Waller is here," and then Dade would have ended the talk. He did not wish to speak further of Field or his condition. But she called again, low-toned, yet dominant, as is many a wife in and out of the army. "Surely you are not letting the general start with only two men!" "No, he goes by and by." And again Dade would have escaped to the piazza, but once again she held him. "Then where are you sending these?" "After Mr. Hay. He--made an early start--not knowing perhaps, the general was coming." "Start!" she cried, all excitement now. "Start!--Start for where?" and the dressing sacque in aspen-like agitations came in full view at the head of the stairs. "Rawlins, I suppose. I don't know what it means." "But _I_ do!" exclaimed his better half, in emotion uncontrollable. "_I_ do! It means that she has _made_ him,--that _she_ has gone, too--I mean Nanette Flower!" CHAPTER XV A WOMAN'S PLOT