A number of soldiers off duty were loitering in front of the barracks, while a small group of officers occupied chairs on the log porch of their quarters, enjoying the warmth of the sun. I greeted these as I passed, conscious that their eyes followed me curiously as I approached the closed door of the commandant's office. The sentry without brought his rifle to a salute, but permitted my passage without challenge. A voice within answered my knock, and I entered, closing the door behind me. The room was familiar--plain, almost shabbily furnished, the walls decorated only by the skins of wild beasts, and holding merely a few rudely constructed chairs and a long pine table. Major Bliss glanced up at my entrance, with deep-set eyes hidden beneath bushy-gray eyebrows, his smooth-shaven face appearing almost youthful in contrast to a wealth of gray hair. A veteran of the old war, and a strict disciplinarian, inclined to be austere, his smile of welcome gave me instantly a distinct feeling of relief. "How long have you been here at Armstrong, Lieutenant?" he questioned, toying with an official-looking paper in his hands. "Only about three weeks, sir. I came north on the _Enterprise_, with dispatches from General Gaines." "I remember; you belong to the Fifth, and, without orders, I promptly dragooned you into garrison service." His eyes laughed. "Only sorry I cannot hold you any longer." "I do not understand, sir." "Yet I presume you have learned that the _Wanderer_ stopped here for an hour last night on its way north to Prairie du Chien?" "Captain Thockmorton just informed me." "But you received no mail?" "No, sir; or, rather, I have not been at the office to inquire. Was there mail for me?" "That I do not know; only I have received a communication relating to you. It seems you have an application pending for a furlough." "Yes, sir." "It is my pleasure to inform you that it has been granted--sixty days, with permission to proceed east. There has been considerable delay evidently in locating you." A sudden vision arose before me of my mother's face and of the old home among the hills as I took the paper from his extended hands and glanced at the printed and written lines. "The date is a month ago." "That need not trouble you, Knox. The furlough begins with this delivery. However, as I shall require your services as far as St. Louis, I shall date its acceptance from the time of your arrival there." "Which is very kind, sir."