“And just in time, too!” said the major, who was also the colonel’s father. He looked at her reproachfully. “We were about to send a company out after you! Leave Baby at the side door and go straight upstairs. When you’re presentable come down, and I’ll introduce you to your Boston uncle and aunt. We’ve been watching for you all afternoon. What kept you, you vagabond?” The colonel, trying to quiet her nervous horse, wheeled about in a manner that made her aunt dizzy. She answered, jerkily: “Trouble, sir--on the reservation! Whoa, there, pretty! Quiet, girl! It seems that--it seems that some of those hogs of Indians got hold--steady, old girl!--got hold of a keg of whisky--somewhere--and--Peters said--hold still, you fool! You’ll have your oats in a minute!--Peters said--that last night--there wasn’t a man in the camp that wasn’t drunk! You will have to excuse me, sir! She’s pulling my arms out!” And she gave her horse its head. When the two had flashed around the corner of the house, the major smiled, proudly. “What d’ye think of her?” he said, turning to his brother-in-law. “Well, for a nine-year-old,” said Dr. Eyre, slowly, “she is certainly a wonder!” The doctor’s wife, a pretty, precise little woman, looked at her own neat little girl, and sighed, profoundly. “And _this--this_!” she said, plaintively, “is poor Amy’s child!” The major looked a trifle uncomfortable, but his young aid spoke, eagerly: “Every one on the post is proud of the colonel! You see, we’ve brought her up here among us, Mrs. Eyre--taught her everything she knows! You can’t take in her good points at a glance--but she’s as square as any man!” When the little girl presently joined them, her dark hair had been smoothly brushed, her white frock and buckled slippers were irreproachable. She gave a cool and impassive little cheek to her aunt’s kisses, and then, from her father’s knee, soberly studied her kinspeople. “How like Amy!” said Mrs. Eyre. “You don’t remember poor dear mamma, do you, Geraldine?” “I was two,” said the colonel. The aid choked. “Yes--yes--of course!” said Mrs. Eyre. “And she has had no training, has she, Jim? Do you know, darling, that where aunty and cousin Rose live they would think you were a very funny little girl if they heard you talk that way?” “What way, dad?” said the colonel, quickly. “And to hear you say what you said this afternoon,” pursued her aunt, calmly. “To your horse, she means,” supplemented her father, smiling down at her. “But that horse can act like the Old Harry,” said the colonel, musingly. “Speaking of horses,” her uncle said, a little hurriedly, “you’ve never seen mine, have you?” She gave him an eager smile. “No, sir. You know I’ve never been East. But I’ve read about her. I’m very much interested in that horse.” “Well, after dinner, suppose you and I have a look at her?” “_What!_” The colonel was on her feet; “she’s not _here_!” “Yes. Came with us to-day. She’s entered for the Towerton Cup.”