THE VALLEY OF THE BUREAU I glanced backward across my shoulder toward the others.

Both girls were sleeping soundly, while beyond them, down the slope, the three horses were quietly cropping away at the herbage.

I managed to rise.
"Let's move back to the spring, where we will not wake them up," I suggested.

"Now we can talk." My eyes sought the face of the lad questioningly.

He was a loose-lipped, awkward lout, trembling still from a fright he could not conceal.
"You belonged to that squad killed out yonder ?" "Yes, seh; I reckon I'se the only one whut ain't ded," he stammered, so tongue-tied I could scarcely make out his words.