But The Little Fellow I Could Not Find Any Place In The House Or
Outside, Where We Looked With A Lantern.
When I returned to my room I
discovered why the old man laughed, for truly I was a funny sight.
I
had thought my coat much longer than it really was - that is all I am
willing to say about it. I was utterly worn out, and every bone in my
body seemed to be rebelling about something, still I could not sleep,
but listened constantly for Billie. I blamed myself so much for not
having shut up the cat and fancied I heard the cat chasing him.
After a long, long time, it seemed hours, I heard a faint noise like a
scratch on tin, and lighting a lamp quickly, I went to the kitchen and
then listened. But not a sound was to be heard. At the farther end a
bank had been cut out to make room for the kitchen, which gave it a
dirt wall almost to the low ceiling, and all across this wall were
many rows of shelves where tins of all sorts and cooking utensils were
kept, and just above the top shelf was a hole where the cat could go
out on the bank. I put the lamp back of me on the table and kept very
still and looked all along the shelves, but saw nothing of Billie.
Finally, I heard the little scratch again, and looking closely at some
large tins where I thought the sound had come from, I saw the little
squirrel. He was sitting up in between two of the pans that were
almost his own color, with his head turned one side, and "hands on his
heart," watching me inquisitively with one black eye.
He was there and apparently unharmed, but to catch him was another
matter. I approached him in the most cautious manner, talking and
cooing to him all the time, and at last I caught him, and the little
fellow was so glad to be with friends once more, he curled himself in
my hands, and put two little wet paws around a thumb and held on
tight. It was raining, and he was soaking wet, so he must have been
out of doors. It would have been heartbreaking to have been obliged to
come away without finding that little grayback, and perhaps never know
what became of him. I know where my dear dog is, and that is bad
enough. We heard just before leaving the post that men of the company
had put up a board at Hal's grave with his name cut in it. We knew
that they loved him and were proud of him, but never dreamed that any
one of them would show so much sentiment. Faye has taken the horses
with him and Cagey also.
The young men of Helena gave the officers an informal dance last
night. At first it promised to be a jolly affair, but finally, as the
evening wore on, the army people became more and more quiet, and at
the last it was distressing to see the sad faces that made dancing
seem a farce.
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