"Who?" he repeated. "Major McDonald? How the hell should I know? Some officer went out--yes; heavy set man with a mustache. I did n't pay any attention to him; had government transportation. There were two other passengers, both men, ranchers, I reckon; none in the station at all. What's that, Jane?"
A woman's voice spoke from out the darkness behind.
"Was the soldier asking if Major McDonald went East on the coach, Sam?"
"Sure; what do you know about it?"
"Why, I was outside when they started," she explained, "and the man in uniform was n't the Major. I know him by sight, for he 's been down here a dozen times when I was at the desk. This fellow was about his size, but dark and stoop-shouldered."
"And the others?" asked Hamlin eagerly.
"I did n't know either of them, only I noticed one had a black beard."
"A very large, burly fellow?"
"No, I don't think so. I did n't pay special attention to any of them, only to wonder who the officer was, 'cause I never remembered seein' him here before at Dodge, but, as I recollect, the fellow with a beard was rather undersized; had a shaggy buffalo-skin cap on."
Plainly enough the man was not Dupont, and McDonald had not departed on the stage, while some other, pretending to be he, possibly wearing his clothes to further the deceit, had taken the seat reserved in the coach. Baffled, bewildered by this unexpected discovery, the Sergeant swung back into his saddle, not knowing which way to turn.