Si and Shorty's dismay when they returned and found their squad entirely disappeared was overwhelming. They stood and gazed at one another for a minute in speechless alarm and wonderment. "Great goodness," gasped Si at length, "they can't have gone far. They must be somewhere around." "Don't know about that," said Shorty despairingly. "We've bin gone some little time and they're quick-footed little rascals." "What fools we wuz to both go off and leave 'em," murmured Si in deep contrition. "What fools we wuz." "No use o' cryin' over spilt milk," answered Shorty. "The thing to do now is to find 'em, which is very much like huntin' a needle in a haystack. You stay here, on the chance o' them comin' back, and I'll take a circle around there to the left and look for 'em. If I don't find 'em I'll come back and we'll go down to the Provo-Marshal's." "Goodness, I'd rather be shot than go back to the rijimint without 'em," groaned Si. "How kin I ever face the Colonel and the rest o' the boys?" Leaving Si gazing anxiously in every direction for some clew to his missing youngsters, Shorty rushed off in the direction of the sutler's shanties, where instinct told him he was most likely to find the runaways. He ran up against Groundhog. "Where are you goin' in sich a devil of a hurry?" the teamster asked. "Smell a distillery somewhere?" "Hello, Groundhog, is that you? Ain't you dead yit? Say, have you seen a squad o' recruits around here--all boys, with new uniforms, and no letters or numbers on their caps?" "Lots and gobs of 'em. Camp's full of 'em. More comin' in by every train." "But these wuz all Injianny boys, most of 'em little. Not an old man among 'em." "Shorty, I know where your boys are. What'll you give me to tell you?" Shorty knew his man of old, and just the basis on which to open negotiations. "Groundhog, I've just had my canteen filled with first-class whisky--none o' your commissary rotgut, but old rye, hand-made, fire-distilled. I got it to take out to the boys o' the rijimint to celebrate my comin' back. Le' me have just one drink out of it, and I'll give it to you if you'll tell." Groundhog wavered an instant. "I wuz offered $10 on the other side." Shorty was desperate. "I'll give you the whisky and $10." "Le' me see your money and taste your licker." "Here's the money," said Shorty, showing a bill. "I ain't goin' to trust you with the canteen, but I'll pour out this big spoon full, which'll be enough for you to taste." Shorty drew a spoon from his haversack and filled it level full. "It's certainly boss licker," said Groundhog, after he had drunk it, and prudently hefted the canteen to see if it was full. "I'll take your offer. You're to have just one swig out o' it, and no more, and not a hog-swaller neither. I know you. You'd drink that hull canteenful at one gulp, if you had to. You'll let me put my thumb on your throat?" "Yes, and I'll give you the canteen now and the money after we find the boys."