Rowen looked around the near-by woods. There was nothing to be seen. Deliberately he faced Jim.
“Absurd, Mercer,” he declared, his intention plain.
“Do you mean you think I’m lying?” Jim demanded, his cheeks flushing.
“I don’t have to mean anything. You tell me a story like that but I don’t see the faintest evidence of it. What do you expect of me?”
“Look here, Rowen,” said Jim. “How far away were you when these horses started?”
“A few yards. I was just patrolling this way when I heard them go,” answered the sentry.
“Then you heard me say, ‘What are you doing to those horses?’ didn’t you?”
“No, Mercer, I did not,” returned Rowen, steadily.
“You did so!” retorted Jim, flatly.
“I heard nothing,” repeated Rowen. “When I got here I found the horses in flight and I saw you standing back of them. Under the circumstances I must tell that to the proper officers and the colonel.”