"Yes; that is it,--forget me; you may forget me. What's more, you can do it now. I am going far away, so that your eyes will not remind you." "You are going to make your word good to Mr. Harding, are you not?" asked the chief of scouts. "What good is a dog's word?" came the bitter reply. The Major said little, but remained steadily studying the face of the scout; rising, he approached him with extended hand. "If you are going away, let us part friends, at least. Here is my hand, and I shall not forget you; I shall not forget your services to me or mine, and I do not think you are a dog. When you calm down you may find that you have been unjust to Captain Lewis and myself." The scout took the Major's hand mechanically, and also that of Lewis, which the latter offered in turn, saying:-- "In the morning I will see that you get your pay, and if you conclude to return, I will find you employment." "Thank you, sir; I care nothing for the pay. I did not come here for money; I came here to help you fight the Sioux, and to be a man among white men." And once more the young man relapsed into the quiet of his ordinary discourse. "You certainly have shown yourself a man among men; no one has ever questioned that," said the Major. "Then why is it wrong for a man among men to want your daughter to be his wife?" "It is not wrong, but you have gone about the matter wrong. I have tried to make it plain that her hand is promised to Mr. Butler." As this was said, two horses trotted up to Captain Lewis's quarters. A man dismounted, gave his horse to the other, and Butler himself strode heavily into the room. He was quite gray with dust, with a soiled handkerchief about his neck, unshaven, booted, and armed. "Hello, Major! Hello, Lewis! I'm just in with my troop, and if you will pardon me, I will have a word with Mr. Ermine here." His manner was strained, and knowing the situation as they all did, the two older officers were alarmed. "Hold up there, Butler; never mind your word to-night; wait until morning." Butler paid no attention, but addressed the scout with icy directness. "May I ask, Mr. Ermine, if you have in your possession a photograph of Miss Searles?" "I have." "Have you it about your person at present?" "I have, sir." "Then, Mr. Ermine, I have the word of Miss Searles for it, that the photograph in question was one she had taken, of which there is only one copy in the world; and which was given to me, and lost by myself, somewhere on the road between here and Fort Ellis. It must be my property. If you will let me see it, I can soon identify it. In which case I demand that you hand it over to me." "Mr. Butler, you will only get that photograph from off my dead body. You have Miss Searles; is not that enough?" "I will then take it by force from you!" A tremendous bang roared around the room, and the little group was lost in smoke. [Illustration: "A TREMENDOUS BANG ROARED AROUND THE ROOM."]