His career as a border boy, then his cadetship at West Point, followed by his brilliant Indian campaigning in the Black Hills country, and again fighting the Apaches, to be sent back to his old commander and friend, Colonel Crandall, had made the name of Kit Carey, first lieutenant of cavalry, a popular one in the army, and it was respected by all who knew his record. Now he had come to the front on special duty, and Colonel Forsythe had no doubt but that he had already done good service. "I will make my report, Colonel Forsythe, and then slip out of this rig, and try and appear as a pale-face," said Kit Carey, amused at the manner in which the colonel regarded him. "You have been called a very handsome man, Carey, but, my word for it, your best girl would deny the impeachment if she saw you now," Captain Wallace said, with a laugh. "If we could keep him in that make-up there would be more chance for us homely fellows with the girls," muttered a handsome young lieutenant. "I'll hear your report, Lieutenant Carey," Colonel Forsythe said, and thus commanded the officer-spy responded: "I disguised myself, sir, to enter the camp of Big Foot, feeling sure that he was playing a double game. My orders, sir, were to take a squad of Indian cavalry and scout thoroughly about the Bad Lands, and to report to the different commanders the actions of the hostiles." "Yes, I received your communication yesterday morning, and I feel that we shall capture Big Foot's band before nightfall." "You will, sir; he is preparing to join the hostiles, and you will have to surround him to capture his braves, as they will make a break, sir, if they discover you are in pursuit of them." "Major Whiteside, with the first battalion, is already flanking them, and will cut them off before noon." "Then their capture is assured, sir. They are out of provisions, and the warriors are desperate, while the squaws and children are in an ugly mood. Red Hatchet, who is also a medicine chief, and has a band of able young bucks in the Bad Lands, reached Big Foot's camp last night, and he is using his whole powers of oratory to make them fight. Finding what they intended doing, I slipped out of the camp and came to report to you, sir." "You did well, Lieutenant Carey; but you took terrible chances in going into Big Foot's camp, good as is your disguise." "I speak Sioux fairly well, sir, and have practiced playing Indian before," was the modest response, followed by the words: "I would like to remain with you, sir, until I knew Big Foot and his band were in your hands, for then I can dismiss his force from my mind when I return to my post." "I shall be glad of your assistance, Carey, I assure you," courteously replied Colonel Forsythe, and after having located the exact position of Big Foot, from a few words with Kit Carey, he turned to the commander of K troop, and said: