Chapter 6

Red Man's Good Will

It was early afternoon when the small group of soldiers arrived at the Hekawi camp. They entered and found Chief Wild Eagle waiting to meet them. The four dismounted as a fat Hekawi in a scout troop hat with feathers stuck in it came up and took their horses.

Major Chase walked up to the chief and raised his hand Indian style. "How."

"Hello there," Wild Eagle replied and stuck out a hand.

Chase looked at it and blinked. A bit uncertainly, he put his own down and clasped the red one in a firm handshake. "I thought the Indians said 'how'?"

Wild Eagle shrugged. "That what everyone think. They expect us to answer that way, but we more civilized than people think."

"I'm sorry," Chase quickly apologized. "I didn't mean any insult by it."

The chief grinned. "Not insulted. Only used paleface version today to honor you as Hekawi guest."

Chase stood straighter. "Well, thank you. I'm honored to be here. I'm Major Bradley Chase from Washington."

"Me Chief Wild Eagle from right here. Pleased to meet paleface major from Washington."

Just then, Captain Parmenter along with O'Rourke and Agarn came walking up. "Sorry I fell behind," Parmenter said slightly embarrassed, "but my boot got stuck in my stirrup."

"It sure did," Agarn piped up. "I thought we were going to have to dissect the whole saddle to get him out."

More greetings were exchanged to the new arrivals, then Chase addressed the chief. "My mission here is to check up on the friendly relations between Fort Courage and the Hekawis. I must say that Captain Parmenter has had some very nice things to say about you and your tribe. He says you've always honored your treaties and have even been a great help to them at times. He speaks highly of your friendship."

Wild Eagle put on a modest expression. "We good friends with Captain. He treat us good, so we just try to return favor best we can."

Chase smiled. "I'm very glad to hear that. And if I'm as pleased with what I see today as what I've been hearing, I can promise you that your name will be well mentioned in my report to Washington."

Wild Eagle waved a hand. "Aww, don't have to go to all that trouble. Me not vain chief, always try to remain in background." He leaned closer. "But just to let you know, "Wild Eagle" two words. Spelled just like it sound."

Agarn leaned close to O'Rourke. "So much for modesty."

Parmenter spoke up. "Chief, I was wondering, what do you have planned for us?"

"Lots of things," Wild Eagle replied eagerly. "Tonight we have big celebration. Make Major honorary member of tribe. Lots of dancing and music. Plenty food for great feast."

"Sounds great to me!" Agarn exclaimed.

"Really, Chief, you didn't have to go to all that trouble," Chase said.

Wild Eagle shook his head. "No trouble. Glad to do it. Not like I paying for it." He glanced at Sergeant O'Rourke, who in turn made a slight face back.

Chase looked around. "By the way, Chief, if it's not too much trouble, I was wondering if I could have a tour of your camp."

"No trouble. Happy to oblige. You want the second-class tour or first-class?"

"There's a choice?"

Wild Eagle nodded. "First-class include three hour tour of entire camp, stop for inside look at teepee, and also six stops for chance to buy genuine Indian charms and trinkets. Plus options of snacks and drinks. Second-class tour shorter, only half hour long without fringe benefits – also cheaper."

Parmenter stepped up. "Make it the first-class tour. After all, nothing's too good for our men in Washington."

Chase turned to him. "You don't have to do that, Captain. I can go second-class if it's going to be cheaper."

Parmenter held up a hand. "No, no, Major. You're our guest here and it's my treat."

"Tell you what," Wild Eagle put in. "In this case we forget money, and give you pick of either class for free.

"That's very generous of you, Chief," Chase said with an appreciative nod. "Well, since it's that way and I did come out here to see all I could, we'll keep the first-class tour."

Wild Eagle nodded. "Alright then." He loudly clapped his hands twice.

From between the teepees, Crazy Cat appeared leading a pinto horse hitched up to a long low wagon with the words "TOUR CART" painted on the side. Three slab boards were fastened across the top to make seats, each covered in blankets to make them more comfortable to sit on. Crazy Cat brought the horse to a halt before the group.

"Somebody call for a tour cart?" he called in a chauffeur kind of way.

"Wow!" Parmenter said in amazement. "A surrey ride! Now that's what I call first-class!"

"In the second-class tour you have to walk. That why it so short," Wild Eagle explained.

From beside the painted horse, Crazy Cat called out, "All aboard! Seats going fast!"

"Quick, Captain!" Agarn said. "Let's get on before they're all taken!"

"Right, Corporal!" Parmenter and Agarn dashed for the wagon as Chase followed at a more dignified pace.

O'Rourke leaned closer to Wild Eagle. "That sure was a nice thing of ya' lettin' the major have the tour for free."

Wild Eagle waved a hand. "Glad to do it for Major. Hekawis not moneygrubbers. Besides," he leaned closer, "it all going on your tab." He walked off.

O'Rourke glared after him. "I should'a known," he muttered.

They all then climbed into the low wagon. Wild Eagle took the entire first board, Parmenter and Chase took the middle one, and O'Rourke and Agarn took the back. Wild Eagle clapped his hands again and two pretty Indian girls came rushing up, each with a large tray. On one were small bags of nuts, Indian popcorn, and dried jerky; and on the other were cups of water and berry juice.

Wild Eagle turned to Chase. "Before we start, could I interest you in small snack for the ride?"

"I'd love some," Agarn said and reached for a bag of popcorn, but quickly pulled it back with a yelp when the sergeant slapped his hand. "What was that for?!"

"You don't need any snacks," O'Rourke answered brusquely.

"But, Sarge, I barely had any lunch. I'm starving," Agarn whimpered.

"It's alright, Sergeant," Parmenter said as he helped himself to a bag of jerky and some water. "Even if he is on a diet, small snacks like this aren't fattening."

"They aren't? Thanks, Captain!" Agarn exclaimed and happily took a bag of popcorn and nuts and two cups of juice.

Major Chase chose nuts and jerky with a water. O'Rourke took nothing as he sat back and watched his tab grow.

"Crazy Cat," Wild Eagle then announced, "start tour."

"Right, Chief," Crazy Cat called back and led the pinto forward. Slowly, the wagon rolled off through the rows of teepees.

Wild Eagle cleared his throat then began loudly. "Welcome to the one and only Hekawi Indian Camp tour – first-class! We are now entering the east side of Hekawi camp! To your right you will see a group of braves gathering wood for fires! To your left you will see four squaws making beaded moccasins …"

"Hey, Sarge," Agarn muffled through a mouthful. "Could you lean back a little? I can't see."

O'Rourke sighed, almost a growl, but didn't feel like fighting the issue and complied. For a long while the cart steadily rolled on as he listened to Wild Eagle's tour speech and the noisy munching around him, trying to zone both out. A very slow half an hour had passed when there was a tug on his sleeve.

"Sarge," Agarn whispered. "Think we could stop the tour for a few moments."

"Why?" O'Rourke asked. Agarn motioned him closer and he leaned over slightly as the corporal whispered in his ear. O'Rourke listened, then frowned at him. "Well, why didn't you go before we started?"

Crossing his legs, Agarn looked down at the two empty cups in his hands. "I didn't have to before."

Shaking his head, O'Rourke tapped Parmenter on the shoulder, who was sitting directly in front of him. The captain turned around somewhat stiffly to him. "I'm sorry, Captain, but I'm afraid Agarn has to make a rest stop."

"No problem, Sergeant," Parmenter replied. "Oh, Wild Eagle! Could we make a quick stop for a moment?"

Before the wagon even came to a full halt, Agarn had already leaped out and was sprinting off.

The sergeant watched him disappear into the near woods. "I'm sorry about this, Major. I–" O'Rourke looked around, but suddenly found he was the only one in the wagon. With a sigh, he leaned forward, resting his chin in his palm. "I don't know just how," he mumbled to himself, "but I'll probably get charged for this too."

The entire afternoon was spent going up and down through the rows of teepees. Major Chase asked about a hundred questions and inspected everything with an eager eye. And he saw exactly what O'Rourke wanted him to see, just a typical Indian camp with the traditional teepees, cooking fires, buckskins, and feathers. As Agarn whispered to him, "They were doing a good job pretending to be Indians". That part was going as planned, the only thing that wasn't was the sergeant's tab, which was growing bigger with every bracelet, bead, and charm that the others took – and he couldn't do anything about it. It dawned on him why Wild Eagle had been so ready to say everything was for free. If they thought their little treasures cost nothing, then they would be willing to take more. O'Rourke tried to cheer himself up by thinking about all the crates that were stashed safely inside the fort at that very minute, and the profit that would come from them. Though he had to think of it quite often as the tab continued to rise in a mound of snacks and trinkets. And he wondered why Agarn, even though around such things all the time, kept taking souvenirs for himself.

Back at the fort, things continued at their usual slow pace. The men did their regular routine work, then passed the time playing horseshoes or a game of darts or by just napping. In the corral, privets Dobbs and Duffy each brushed down a dozing horse.

Dobbs rubbed his brush over the brown rump a few more times then stepped back to survey his work. He dabbed his forehead with a sleeve. "Well, I got this one done."

"I pretty much done with mine too," Duffy answered.

"How many more we got to do?"

"These are the last ones."

Dobbs looked around at the groomed horses. "Oh! Well that didn't take too long. I think all we got left to do now is give 'em some more hay and we'll be done."

They tossed their brushes aside and let the horses loose in the corral, then made their way to the barn. The dark inside lit up as Dobbs swung open one of the large doors. The two headed for the large haystack in the back.

Dobbs grabbed a pitchfork. "C'mon, let's get finished so we can get to the horseshoe game. I got a bet with Stanley and Livingston that we'll beat 'em this time."

Duffy nodded with a grin. "Right."

He came up with a wheelbarrow and Dobbs began pitching hay into it. When it was full they wheeled it out to the trough in the corral and dumped the load in. They made several more trips like this till the trough was full and the horses were munching contentedly away. They brought the wheelbarrow back inside and Duffy stashed it out of the way.

He slapped his hands together to wipe them off. "Well, that's it. Now let's get to the game."

Dobbs nodded and shoved his pitchfork into the haystack. But instead of sinking in, it stopped with a hard thud. Dobbs and Duffy exchanged glances in confusion.

"Did you hear that?"

Duffy nodded. "Yeah. Sounded like it hit something hard. Like wood."

Dobbs prodded around with the pitchfork, it stopped short every time. He began digging in the hay with his hands. "Hey, Duffy, look at this."

They both cleared away a section of hay to expose the corner of what appeared to be a wood crate. A little more digging revealed even more stacked on top.

Duffy frowned in puzzlement. "Why there's a whole stack of 'em under here."

Dobbs scratched an ear. "How'd'ya' suppose they got here?"

All he got in reply was a shrug.

"I wonder what's in 'em." Dobbs grabbed a hammer from a nearby bench and wedged the end under the lid. He leaned hard onto the handle. "Boy," he wheezed as he pried the corner up. "This thing sure is nailed down good." The corner finally gave with a cracking pop and Dobbs managed to grab it before it snapped back down. "Grab ahold of this, will ya'?"

Duffy grasped onto the corner and pulled hard, opening it just enough to peek through as Dobbs squatted down beside the box.

"Can ya' see?" Duffy wheezed, straining to keep the corner up.

"Just barely," Dobbs answered as he squinted to see inside the dark interior. He began to stick his hand in to feel around. "It looks like–"

"Look out!" Duffy's hands slipped and the corner came down with a smack on Dobbs fingers. The bugler let out a yowl as he jumped back and danced around a moment while cradling his hand.

"Sorry about that, Dobbs. You alright?" Duffy asked.

Dobbs stuck the throbbing fingers in his mouth and sucked on them. "I think so. Just smarts," he answered around them.

"Did ya' see what was inside?"

Dobbs pulled them out of his mouth. "Looked like blankets, and maybe some kind ah' gear in the back," he answered as he examined his fingers, knowing that they would probably be bruised within moments.

Duffy stared at the box, or what he could see of it, as he thought. "Blankets and gear, huh? They must be supply boxes."

"But, again, why are they in here? The Sarge is in charge of getting supplies, so how'd they end up here."

"There must's been some sort of mix-up or somethin' and they accidently got put in here instead of the supply shed."

"And that hay got put on top." Dobbs frowned. "But I don't know how we could'a missed that."

Duffy's brows went up. "You know, Vanderbilt was on that detail."

"That's true. And come ta' think of it, he was the one who told us where to back the hay wagon in. He must'a directed us to the wrong spot and we dumped the whole load right over it. Who was in charge of that assignment?"

"If Vanderbilt was our guide, who else around here would be stupid enough to give him that kind of a job?

Dobbs nodded understandingly. "It was Agarn alright."

"Should we tell the captain about this?" Duffy asked.

Dobbs tilted his head. "Well … if we did, we might get Agarn in trouble. And the Sarge, too."

"But we found 'em again."

"Yeah, but the Sarge could still get inta' trouble for misplacing military property, and Agarn could also get in trouble for hiding misplaced military property, even if they didn't mean ta' do it."

Duffy shrugged. "So what do we do?"

Dobbs thought a moment, then his face lit up. "I got an idea! Let's just take all these crates and put them in the supply shed where they belong and not say a word about it. Then won't nobody get in trouble for a little mix-up."

Duffy grinned and nodded. "Good idea. And with the captain off the post he won't see us fix it."

"Right. Let's start." Dobbs began swishing hay aside.

"Right now? What about the game? We could wait till after. The captain won't be back till late tonight."

Dobbs shook his head dismally as he held up his hand, fingers already turning black and blue. "With my hand in this condition, I won't be able to pitch for a week. We'd never win against Stanley and Livingston."

"You got a point. I'll give you a hand then."

Together the two began uncovering the stack and pulling them out one by one.

"When the sarge and Agarn get back, we'll tell 'em that we took care of everything," Dobbs added proudly.

Duffy nodded. "I'm sure that'll be a load off their minds. They were probably trying to figure out whatever happened to all these."

Dobbs smiled happily. "Won't they be surprised though?"

When evening came, Major Chase and the others all sat down with Chief Wild Eagle for a festive supper, which the major enjoyed very much. Not so much for the food, but the pretty Hekawi maidens that served it. After a hearty meal of Indian style cooking, Chase and the chief talked lengthy about past treaties and their relations with F Troop. Of course, nothing was said about O'Rourke Enterprises and their dealings with the sergeant. By the time dusk had fallen, dinner was over, and a peace pipe smoked, Chase was finally completely convinced that the Hekawis friendly relationship with Fort Courage was stable.

Then the induction ceremony began. They put a large headdress on the major, which happened to be a souvenir one they'd kept back for just that purpose – since genuine headdresses were harder to come by. Wild Eagle gave a speech about Hekawi traditions in such times and proclaimed the major an honorary member. Then the festivities began. Wild Eagle, Chase, Parmenter, O'Rourke, and Agarn sat around the fire as the rest of the tribe began to dance in a wide circle around them. Tom-toms drummed and the Indians whooped it up as both braves and squaws danced. Chase was enjoying every minute of it. As the tom-toms began to beat their rhythm louder, Agarn began to fidget.

Parmenter noticed. "Corporal, is something wrong?"

"No, no. I'm fine," Agarn said rapidly, twitching again.

"Well, it's just that you're acting a little strange," the captain added.

"Him look like him got ants in pants," Wild Eagle put in.

"No, no. I'm fine," Agarn repeated at lightning speed.

O'Rourke watched the wiggling corporal a moment. Then he began to laugh and all looked at the sergeant in confusion. O'Rourke slapped his friend on the back. "Go on, Agarn!"

Agarn turned excitedly with a large smile. "Really, Sarge?!"

O'Rourke flipped a hand. "Go ahead before you bust!"

Agarn leapt to his feet with a wild yell and ran to join in with the dancers. He began to wildly wave his hat over his head as he danced with all his might, stomping his feet with the beat of the drums. Every once in a while he let out a whoop when he really got going, which was quite frequently.

Parmenter turned to the sergeant with an amused smile. "That's what was bothering him?"

O'Rourke nodded, still chuckling. "Yes, sir. That's one thing Agarn has never been able control himself with. Whenever he hears a tom-tom get going–" he waved his hands. "Whoa Ho! Watch out!"

"I can believe that," Chase added as he watched the corporal jump and leap about. He turned back to Wild Eagle. "I must say, Chief, this has been quite a day."

"Not over yet," Wild Eagle said with a toothy grin. "Have one more part of ceremony left."

Chase brightened expectantly. "Oh?"

Wild Eagle clapped his hands together twice and a few braves rushed out of the dancing circle and over to where something large and square was covered in blankets. They ripped the blankets off to reveal a large stack of crates. One of the braves brought one over and set it before the chief and the major.

"These are our gifts to palefaces in Washington," Wild Eagle explained. He took off the lid. The crate was lined with animal skins and filled to the top with trinkets and beads and other Indian artifacts, all nicely packed. "This only sample. All other boxes contain similar items. Also include peace pipes, Indian outfits, tom-toms, bows and arrows, and tomahawks. Also one full Medicine Man costume with step-by-step booklet of different dances and chants that go with them. All the way from war dance to dry dance."

Parmenter's brows went up. "A dry dance?"

Wild Eagle nodded grimly. "Sometimes people get carried away with rain dance, so have to have one to cancel it out. Last time brave get too into dance it rain for two weeks! Did very well in canoe sales that month though."

"Oh." Chase began browsing through the items, his expression elated. "This is wonderful! You certainly have gone to a lot of trouble, Chief."

Wild Eagle nodded. "Just want to make sure that you fellas in Washington get picture. We old hands at souvenirs anyway." He signaled and the brave took the crate back to the stack. "And now, Hekawis have one last gift for paleface major. Our biggest surprise." Wild Eagle grinned widely as he sat ramrod straight. "Genuine Indian teepee."

"A whole teepee?" Chase said in astonishment.

Wild Eagle nodded. "Also all necessary accessories that go with it." He began counting off on his fingers. "Four buffalo skins to go on floor, one tree stump table, one shorter tree stump chair, plus three genuine deerskin paintings and Indian shields for wall decoration. Also include one welcome mat to put out front with old Hekawi saying sewn on it by genuine Hekawi maiden: "When shadow of buffalo pass over field mouse, then will acorn fall before beaver build dam"."

Chase looked at Parmenter, who shrugged and looked at O'Rourke, who shrugged and looked at the major. Seeing the circle had come back to him, Chase turned back to Wild Eagle. "What does that mean?"

"Wipe moccasins before entering."

"Oh. I must say, that's very generous of you, Chief. Giving up one of your homes for me."

Wild Eagle waved a hand. "No problem. Haven't had shortages in teepee market for many moons."

Chase looked around. "Where is it?"

The chief pointed to another large stack of crates nearby the first. "Everything you need in boxes."

"You mean I have to assemble it myself?"

Wild Eagle stared at him. "What you expect? Pop-up teepee?"

Chase quickly shook his head. "Of course not, but it's just that I've never set one up before."

Again, the chief motioned to the crates. "Put set of instructions in with it for you. But had to break down poles to make them fit in boxes, so afraid it "assembly required"."

"Well, thank you, I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out then. Though I really don't know what I'm going to do with a whole teepee."

"There no problem there. Can set up in front lawn as tourist attraction. You watch. After you put out a few days pretty soon everyone have one."

Chase laughed lightly. "I doubt that."

Wild Eagle shook his head. "No, no. People have a thing for teepees. They very catching. Believe me, it crazy what they willing to pay just to stand in one. You can make fortune renting out for overnight stays."

"They like them that much?" Chase asked.

"They are really quite nice, Major," Parmenter put in. "You'd be surprised how comfortable they actually are. I spent the night in one once and slept just like a log."

"He sure did, Major." O'Rourke spoke up. "So much so that Corporal Agarn almost tried to chop him up as wood for the fire." He chuckled as he watched Agarn, who was still dancing his heart out.

Parmenter's smile turned slightly lopsided at the recollection. "Oh, yes," he mumbled. "I should never have put him in charge of campfire duty."

Chase's head was cocked to the side as he thought. "Well, I guess I'll just have to try it out then."

Wild Eagle nodded. "Me sure you enjoy it. But there one thing about it that different from rest of gifts."

"What's that?"

"No return policy on teepees."

It was almost midnight by the time the festivities began to wind down. Most of the dancers had worn out long before and sat around resting their feet and snoozing, that is all except Agarn. He continued on long after the others had quit, even though the tom-toms had also stopped, the drummers resting their hands and snoozing. He made his own boom-booms as he kept going at his frenzied pace around the campfire which had burned down to glowing embers.

A ways off, the major, captain, and O'Rourke stood with Wild Eagle. The fat Hekawi in the scout troop hat came up with their horses.

Chase stood ramrod straight as he faced Wild Eagle. "Chief, you've been most hospitable, and I thank you for your kind gestures and generous gifts of good will. I assure you, your name will be mention with the highest regards in my report."

Wild Eagle shrugged as he flipped a hand. "Aww, it nothing. Happy to have paleface major in Hekawi camp."

"Well, I certainly have no worries about any troubles here. I'm proud to have had the pleasure of meeting you," Chase added. "So long, Chief."

Parmenter tapped his shoulder. "What about the gifts, Major?"

"Oh yes." Chase rubbed his chin, looking over the large stacks. "Well, I don't have any way to take them back with me right now. Chief, would it be all right if I came back in the morning with a wagon to pick them up?"

Wild Eagle nodded. "Sure thing. Be glad to store overnight for major."

"Thank you, Chief. Then I'll be able to see you once more before I leave. Goodnight," Chase touched his hat brim in a farewell salute and walked off to the horses.

Wild Eagle leaned close to the sergeant as he whispered behind his hand, "That also going–"

"–on my tab," O'Rourke finished in a knowing sigh.

Parmenter turned to Wild Eagle. "Well, Chief, I want to thank you for allowing the major to come and look around and for all the good words you said about the troop."

"No problem, Captain," Wild Eagle answered. "We glad to do it. It profitable friendship – in more ways than one."

O'Rourke scowled.

"Thank you again, Chief." Parmenter began to leave but first addressed O'Rourke. "Sergeant, you'd better get Corporal Agarn and we'll head back to the fort." He then followed Chase.

"Yes, sir." O'Rourke turned towards the camp and hollered, "Agarn! C'mon, it's time to get back to the fort!"

A voice came back, "Awww, but, Sarge–!"

"No 'buts', Agarn. It's time to go."

There was a pattering of boots and Agarn trotted up. On first glance, the corporal could've been mistaken for an Indian in uniform, his face flushed bright red from his wild workout. He fanned himself with his hat. "Boy," he puffed, "I think that was one of my best dances yet. And I was just gettin' warmed up."

"If you got any more "warmed up" you'd start to melt! The bottoms of your boots are probably burned through by now. Now let's go." O'Rourke pulled him toward the horses. Then he muttered, "I'll be glad when tomorrow comes and that major is finally gone."

"Me too, Sarge. Then we can go back to being in the souvenir business."

O'Rourke nodded. "Yeah, that's one of the reasons."

Agarn frowned. "What's the other?"

"If he stays any longer I'm gunna go broke." The officers had already mounted when they reached them. O'Rourke took his reins from the fat Hekawi. "Thanks, Smoky Bear," he said and the round faced Indian nodded in reply and ambled away. The two men mounted their horses.

"This is one day I'll remember forever," Chase breathed as he reverently scanned the starlit camp. "To actually become part of a tribe. And that ceremony was marvelous!"

Parmenter nodded. "It certainly was. The only other ceremony I've been to was their annual Moon Harvest Festival." Then added proudly, "I won first place in the bobbing for Indian nuts competition. I got a genuine skunk pelt for first prize. I wanted to keep it in my quarters, but after the first day I had to take it down because the men in the barracks couldn't stand the smell."

"The barracks?" Chase frowned in confusion. "Captain, if they could smell it all the way over there, how could you stand it in your own quarters?"

"I couldn't smell it." He quickly explained at the major's shocked expression. "Well, actually, I caught a cold from dunking my head in that water and my sinuses were plugged up. It was still fun though. Corporal Agarn came in second. Remember that, Agarn?"

There was no reply.

"Corporal Agarn?" Parmenter turned in his saddle to see the corporal sitting on his horse with his head down. There was a noise from beneath the lowered hat. "What was that, Corporal? I couldn't hear you," the captain said.

"It's no use, sir," O'Rourke cut in. "He's asleep."

The noise came again, only longer and louder this time.

"Well, he did dance pretty hard most of the night," Parmenter reasoned as he listened to the snores. "We should probably wake him though."

"Don't bother, sir," O'Rourke stopped him. "I'll lead his horse and he'll be alright. More than likely he'll sleep all the way back to the fort anyway."

Parmenter hesitated as he looked at the corporal slouched in his saddle, sleeping peacefully. "Well …"

"While you decide, I'm going to head back to the fort," Chase interrupted, gathering the reins. "I'll be heading straight for the train station after I come back here in the morning, and I want to catch the early train; so I'm going to get some sleep. See you men there." He urged his horse forward and cantered gracefully off.

Parmenter watched him go and glanced at Agarn again. "It does seem a shame to wake him up," he mused then finally said, "Okay, if you think he'll be alright, Sergeant." He kicked his own mount in the ribs and the horse started off at a lazy trot as O'Rourke followed, leading Agarn's horse. The captain turned slightly and called over his shoulder, "Just ride next to him, Sergeant, so to be sure he doesn't fall off."

O'Rourke shook his head. "Don't worry, sir. If he did, that wouldn't wake him up either."