"Hasn't failed once since my coming! They send it by way of McDowell, over on the Verde. If Sanchez isn't here, or the mail either, I'll know that 'Tonio was right, that we're hemmed in, and that they have killed our messengers. And they are expecting to hear from me at head-quarters, and probably wondering at my silence. Another thing to be explained." "Another?" said Willett. "Another. Of course I must straighten out that matter about Harris. I own I sent it under wrong im--impressions. I thought at first he had ignored my authority, but that was unjust. The more I think of it, the more I blame myself." "Then--how you must blame _me_!" "Well--no! You doubtless feel that he did ignore you and your authority, though I own it wasn't my intention that you should assume _command_ over him. You are both young and you perhaps judge more sharply than I, but I've learned to know the fallibility of human judgment. I've suffered too much from it myself, and the fact stares me in the face that Harris knew just what ought to be done, and went and did it. He rescued that poor creature at the risk of his life, and he--deserves the credit of it." Willett was silent a moment. He seemed reluctant to speak. Finally and slowly he said: "General Archer, it is an ungracious thing to pull down another man's reputation, especially when, as in this case, Harris and I are classmates and I, at least, am _his_ friend. And, therefore, I still prefer to say nothing. I was in hopes that Captain Stannard and his fellows might be back by this time, with the Bennett boys for one thing, and with--the truth for another." "What truth?" demanded Archer. "The real truth--as I look upon it--the real credit of that rescue, you will find, sir, belongs to Stannard and his troop, with such little aid as they may have received from those who advised and guided them--the scouts. _But_ for Stannard the hostiles would have gotten away, not only with Mrs. Bennett, but with Harris. Harris made a hare-brained attempt to rescue her single-handed. He only succeeded in running his own neck into a noose. Your wisdom, and God's mercy, sent Stannard just in the nick of time, and there's the whole situation in a nut shell." For a moment Archer was silent. Who does not like to hear praise of his wisdom, especially when self-inclined to doubt it? "But the doctor tells me Harris had the Indians on the run before ever Stannard was sighted--that he and his handful of scouts alone attacked, defeated and drove them, that his scouts were chasing them and were mistaken themselves for hostiles, and were fired at by Stannard's men at long range." "Yes," said Willett, with calm deliberation. "That is just the story I should expect Harris to tell."