Without looking in Kippis' direction, the interpreter answered. "Till revelly," he said. Fraser grunted, the surgeon smiled broadly. But the captain frowned. "Of that, later," he said significantly. "Kippis?" The sergeant stepped forward. "Hit's hall true, sir," he faltered. It was Kippis' misfortune always to look more guilty than he was. With Oliver's angry gaze upon him, he flushed redder than fire. The captain was only half satisfied. He turned to the sutler. "And _you_, Blakeley?" The sutler had a round, jolly figure--a figure that was a living advertisement of the fat-producing quality of his edible wares. At Oliver's question that figure gave a startled bounce, like a kernel of corn on a hot grid. "True, sir, true," he vowed huskily, and coughed in apprehension behind a plump hand. The captain looked keenly from man to man. "Very well," he said. Those twelve hours accounted for, Matthews was shown innocent of planting the pole. "Tell me what you did yesterday from revelly on." "Slept till stables." "I know that's so," said Fraser. "After that?" Oliver asked. "I goes into the stockade. Little Thief was carving his bride." The captain glanced at Fraser. The latter nodded back. "I remember," said Oliver, slowly. "Then----?" "Cards till revelly." The listening officers laughed. But there was no softening of the captain's face. "Who played with you?" Matthews indicated the sutler and the sergeant by a sideways move of the head. "Them two," he answered. "Blakely?" "True--true." And Blakely gave another bounce. "Sergeant?" "True's far's _Hi_ know, sir." The thirty-six hours were now covered. Oliver sat down. "That'll do. I want The Squaw and the men who have been on duty at the stockade since the command left. Matthews, you may go." Matthews bowed, Blakely and the sergeant saluted, and the three withdrew. Outside, beyond hearing, they exchanged congratulatory shakes of the hand. "My! but the dander!" breathed the relieved sutler, rolling his apple-round head. "I was that scairt!" "Make you happreciate the K. Ho. w'en you got 'im," returned Kippis, sagely. Matthews shrugged his shoulders pityingly. But he had nothing to say. The three gone, Oliver had turned to those with him. "A complete alibi," he said. "I knew it," said Fraser. "But I wanted you to get it first hand." "You knew?" "Yes, sir. And I hope you'll be easy on Kippis. He and Blakely have been helping me keep tab on Matthews to prevent the very thing that's happened." An hour later, a second group of men gathered in the captain's front room. These were the troopers for whom the commanding officer had asked. With them came Squaw Charley, quaking in his tatters, flinching at every look. As Oliver appeared, the wretched Indian was half-dragged, half-pushed before him.