"In a few words, general, he was an ex-army officer, whose name I am not at liberty to give; but he met with misfortunes and sorrows, and became a recluse, seeking a home in what was then the very heart of the Indian country. He went South when the Civil War began, being a Southerner, and one night when alone on the prairies a horse went into his camp upon the back of which were two children, a boy and a girl. I was the boy, and the young girl is now living with her adopted parents in New York. We had escaped from a wagon-train, where people had been massacred, and roamed into the camp of the one who from that day became a father to me, taking me into the Confederate army with him as a boy soldier." "Your story interests me greatly, Lieutenant Carey--and the young girl?" said the general. "Was adopted by settlers, whose home we went to, and, as I said, is now living in New York." "And you?" "Returned to the frontier with my adopted father, sir, who was known as the hermit of the Black Hills." "Ah! I have heard of him. He was killed by a renegade white man who was a chief among the Sioux, I believe?" "Yes, sir, and his death was avenged," was the significant response of the young officer; and the words recalled to the general that he had heard that Kit Carey was the avenger, and how his services to army officers as a boy guide and scout had gotten him his cadetship to West Point. But to this he did not refer more than to say: "Well, Lieutenant Carey, you are the very man I need for the work to be done, and I shall wish you to hold yourself in readiness for duty, and perilous duty it will be." Kit bowed, and asked: "Am I to go alone, sir, or with a force?" "You are to pick your men from the Indian police, and I only hope and believe they will not prove treacherous; but therein lies your danger, should they do so, as great as it will be from the avowed hostiles. Take as many as you deem necessary, only do not go over fifty men, and your duty will be to know all that goes on in the hostile camps, report the movements of bands, and all you can learn of what the friendly Indians may do, for just now is the most critical time along the frontier, and I have little faith in professions of friendship from armed redskins. Start as soon as you can get ready, and report by your Indian couriers to the officer nearest your position when you have any news to send through of importance, while above all, Carey, be careful of yourself, for you are not to be sacrificed, you know, only there is no one to send who can do the work as you will, with all your border experience." "I shall be cautious, general, and my redskin soldiers will also be." After a few minutes longer spent in conversation, Kit Carey bade the general good-night, and in an hour more was off on his special service of great danger, while behind him in single file rode thirty redskin horsemen, Uncle Sam's Indian cavalry. CHAPTER VIII. AN INDIAN LOVER.