"Is that--all?" asked Colonel Cummings, at last, addressing himself to the interpreter. "Yes, sir." Shortly afterward, when he was gone, the two officers left the library for the reception-room, and discussed the expedition in low tones. "I have a feeling, Colonel, that our interpreter wasn't fair in this thing," was Captain Oliver's first confidence. They were standing at a front window, watching Matthews cross the parade-ground to the barber-shop. "The same thought occurred to me." "And yet--it doesn't seem possible----" "Oh, if Bond had only come sooner!" "Bond! He here?" "Yes--just half a day too late." While they were talking, Matthews was losing his tow beard and moustache and a good length of hair. This over, and his supper eaten, he reappeared at headquarters, and went with Colonel Cummings to the stockade. Much to his chagrin, he found the evangelist there, ready to be present at the interview with the hostages. But the Indians understood his predicament, and accepted the speech he made for the little it was worth. It was a speech that, repeated by David Bond, set Colonel Cummings' last suspicion at rest. Lounsbury arrived at Fort Brannon the next day, appearing in time for breakfast. His early advent, which he explained away nonchalantly, was the cause of some good-natured teasing. "Say, Lounsbury," observed one officer, "I thought you were keeping a store." "Get out!" he retorted. "I'm down here to see that you fellows do something for the good money Uncle Sam pays you." "Why, don't you know?" said Major Appleton. "John's here to sell the sutler some sandy sugar." "That's right!" agreed the storekeeper. "And I'm going to put up a plant to make brown sugar out of the Muddy." Lounsbury could afford to laugh with them, not being the only butt of the jokers. Fraser suffered, too. For a tattling private, who had spent the night at Shanty Town, let it out to a corporal, who told it to a sergeant, who told it to a cub of a second-lieutenant, who told it to every officer in post (with the single exception of the "K. O.") that Fraser--the good, the discreet, the unimpeachable--had played poker with Matthews at The Trooper's Delight from taps to "revelly," and lost his last dollar! The tale had leaked by the hour of Lounsbury's arrival. When the storekeeper heard it, together with the embellishments it carried by reason of its having so often changed hands, he first gave Fraser a grip to show his gratitude, and then sat back and enjoyed the fun. Fraser, sorely tried by the taunts of his brother-officers, repaid Lounsbury with glances of wounded reproof. "Blame it all! old man," he cried, when he could get a quiet word with the other, "why didn't you help me out? You're a nice one! Letting these chaps think I'm a sport! When you know----" But Lounsbury only laughed the harder. And was among the first to dub the lieutenant "a sad devil."