noon
The young soldier , who was not in the habit of being slighted when there was anything of this kind going on , was both surprised and provoked at his officer ; but he afterward thanked him for choosing his men as he did , and congratulated himself on having been left behind . Mr. Wentworth gazed longingly after the lieutenant , and sometimes seemed on the point of riding in pursuit of him ; but he finally made up his mind to stay with the main column . The troopers presently resumed the march , keeping up the same rapid pace as before , and in a few minutes lost sight of Lieutenant Earle and his party , who disappeared among the sandhills . The latter must have ridden very swiftly , for shortly after noon they were a long distance from the main body , their position being pointed out by a slender column of white smoke that suddenly arose in the air . `` That 's them varmints , cap , '' said the scout , whose eye was quick to detect the signal . `` They 're talkin ' to each other . '' `` I know there is somebody where that smoke comes from , but I am not sure that they are hostiles , '' replied Captain Clinton .