"If you will be so good, Captain," answered Ruggles huskily. "But where shall I sleep to-night?" "On a cot in the guard-tent, sir. I am sorry, but that is the best that we can do." Meta Ruggles began to weep softly over her father's trouble and disgrace. Sergeant Raney, therefore, escorted her from camp as soon as he could persuade her to start for the village. Raney was also directed to send an undertaker for the body of the dead Mexican, and a local physician to look after the wounded one. "You are going to sit here for a while, Captain?" inquired Ruggles. "I think I shall." "Then may I sit with you a few minutes before I am marched off to the guard-tent?" "Certainly." Hal had stepped into the tent shared in common by the officers. Ruggles, who had bitten the end from a cigar and had lighted the weed, now leaned over to whisper to Captain Foster: "Has the young man had chance to give you a word or two of explanation yet?" "What young man?" demanded Captain Foster, turning to look at Ruggles. "Why, the officer who marched us over here." "Lieutenant Overton?" "Certainly. Has he told you anything? I mean about how this whole business is to be fixed so as to keep me out of it altogether?" "What on earth are you talking about?" demanded Captain Foster, who was now wondering whether his ears had played him a trick. "Why, it's all settled," murmured Ruggles. "I turned the money over to your chap, Overton, and he told me it would be all fixed. I'm not to be held or prosecuted in this matter. The trouble is all to fall on the Mexicans." "I wish I knew what you were talking about," cried Captain Foster. "Why, it's plain enough, Captain. I paid the money over to your lieutenant, and he and you were to fix it so I could slide out of the matter and keep my name out, too. I paid Overton the five thousand dollars, which he said would be enough for you both and that it would be all right." "Mr. Overton!" called Captain Foster gasping. But Hal did not have to be summoned. He had heard Ruggles's last statement from the doorway of the officers' tent. "Here I am, sir," cried Lieutenant Hal, coming forward, "and I overheard that lying hound! What this fellow, Ruggles, is telling you, Captain, is wholly false." "I know it, Overton, I know it," cried Captain Foster, who had sprung to his feet. "Am I to be flimflammed, after paying the money in good faith?" demanded Ruggles. "See here, Captain, I drew twenty thousand dollars, in twenty bills, at the bank this afternoon. That I can easily prove, of course. Nor can any one on earth prove that I have spent any of that money, for, as it happens, I had the cashier at the bank take the numbers of the thousand-dollar bills. In this envelope, sir, you will find fifteen of the bills left. The numbers of the missing bills can be proved, and the missing bills you will find in the possession of your lieutenant."