The entry was in Bewley's own copperplate. Issued to Ashdown and Co., contract train, for the road to Crow Agency, nine wagons, fifty-four animals, ten days: corn, so many pounds; hay, compressed, so many bales. It was signed off with a flourish in Gaskell's hand, P. Gaskell, 1st Lt. 2d Cav., A.A.Q.M. And it was dated the thirteenth.
Larrabee looked at it for some time.
"The thirteenth," he said. "Yesterday."
"Yes, sir." Bewley's voice was very low. "Yesterday afternoon, sir. About two o'clock."
"Before the order came."
"I couldn't say when the order came, sir. I don't see the orders." He took his spectacles off and polished them on his sleeve, which they did not need. "The lieutenant came down and told me to draw the forage for the Ashdown train and have it on the wagons by dark. He said the order was coming down from Keogh and it was as good as here. I asked should I wait to enter it till the paper came, and he said no, Bewley, enter it now, it's on my head."
"Did you see the letter?"
"No, sir."
"Did you load the wagons? Or see them loaded?"