Frank and Henry occupied quarters with me. Seated before our open fire I read their father's letter, and remarked that perhaps I should be able to accompany them to San Francisco, and if the Colonel consented to their request to go to the military school with me, we might take the same steamer for Panama and New York. "Oh, won't that be too fine for anything!" exclaimed Henry. "Then I'll not have to leave Vicky here, after all." Vic, upon hearing her name called, left her rug on the hearth and placed her nose on Henry's knee, and the boy stroked and patted her in his usual affectionate manner. "Then you have been dreading to leave the doggie?" I asked. "Yes; I dream all sorts of uncomfortable things about her. She is in trouble or I am, and I cannot rescue her and she cannot help me. Usually we are parting, and I see her far off, looking sadly back at me." "Henry is not alone in dreading to part with Vic," said Frank. "We boys can never forget the scenes at Laguna and the Rio Carizo. She assisted in the recovery of Chiquita, and she helped rescue Manuel, Sapoya, and Henry from the Navajos." "Nice little doggie. Nice little Vicky. Are you really going to San Francisco and the East with us!" said Henry, assuming at once that he was to accompany me to the military school. "I believe if I only had Chiquita back, and Frank had Sancho, I should be perfectly happy." After a slight pause, during which the boy seemed to have relapsed into his former depression, Henry asked, "Do they have cavalry drill at the school you're going to?" "Yes; the superintendent keeps twenty light horses, and allows some of the cadets to keep animals. All are used in drill." "And if we get our ponies back, I suppose we shall have to leave them here. Do you think, sir, there is any chance of our seeing them again?" asked Frank. "Not unless some one can go to La Paz for them. Captain Bayard is going to see me after supper about a plan of his." "I wonder what officer he will send?" "I think, because he spoke to me, I am likely to go." "Father would never stand the expense of sending them to the States, I suppose," said Henry, sadly. "They could be got as far as the Missouri River without cost," I observed. "How, please?" "There is a Quartermaster's train due here in a few weeks--one started before the order transferring us to the Department of the Pacific was issued. It would cost nothing to send the ponies by the wagon-master to Fort Union, and there they could be transferred to another train to Fort Leavenworth." "Frank, I've a scheme!" exclaimed the younger boy. "What is it?" "If the Lieutenant finds the ponies, let's send them to Manuel Perea and Sapoya on the Rio Grande. When they go to the military school they can take our horses and theirs, and we'll join the cavalry."