107


Captain  Macklin

The  officer  who  had  first  approached  us  stopped
at  the  opening  of  the  solitary  tent,  and  began
talking  excitedly  to  someone  inside.  And  as  we
reached  the  level  ground,  the  occupant  of  the
tent  stepped  from  it.  He  was  a  stout,  heavy
man,  with  a  long,  twisted  mustache,  at  which  he
was  tugging  fiercely.  He  wore  a  red  sash  and  a
bandman's  tunic,  with  two  stars  sewn  on  the  collar.
I  could  not  make  out  his  rank,  but  his  first  words
explained  him.
"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  at  last,  Mr.  Aiken,"  he
said.  "  I'm  Major  Reeder,  in  temporary  com-
mand.    You  have  come  to  report,  sir  ?  "

Aiken  took  so  long  to  reply  that  I  stopped
studying  the  remarkable  costume  of  the  Major
and  turned  to  Aiken.  I  was  surprised  to  see
that  he  was  unquestionably  frightened.  His  eyes
were  shifting  and  blinking,  and  he  wet  his  lips
with  his  tongue.  All  his  self-assurance  had  de-
serted him.  The  officer  who  had  led  us  to  the
camp  was  also  aware  of  Aiken's  uneasiness,  and
was  regarding  him  with  a  sneer.  For  some  rea-
son the  spectacle  of  Aiken's  distress  seemed  to
afford  him  satisfaction.
"  I  should  prefer  to  report  to  General  La-
guerre,"  Aiken  said,  at  last.
"  I  am  in  command  here,"  Reeder  answered,
sharply.     "  General    Laguerre   is  absent — recon-

io8


Captain  Macklin

noitrlng.  I  represent  him.  I  know  all  about
Mr.  Quay's  mission.  It  was  I  who  recommended
him  to  the  General.     Where  are  the  guns  ?  "

For  a  moment  Aiken  stared  at  him  helplessly,
and  then  drew  in  a  quick  breath.
