The post was relieved while I lay there, the fellows going off duty tramping past so close I could have touched them.

I could still hear the tread of their feet when one of the new guard yelled out "Halt!" and I saw two or three men spring up from around the fire, while the corporal in command ran out into the middle of the road.

Some sort of a rig was coming down the hill, with a cavalry officer--judging from his cape--riding along close beside it.

I was not able to see very plainly the way the light fell, but the contrivance looked to me like one of those old-fashioned, two-wheeled carryalls, with a low top over it, and drawn by a horse not much bigger than a pony.

The officer dug in his spurs and got ahead, leaning over to whisper to the corporal, who stepped back saluting.