"The adjutant, sir. Lieutenant Blake's with him. There has been some prowlers—and the young ladies were frightened."
"They are safely home?" asked the colonel. "Then where's the sleigh?"
"They're home all right, sir, and the sleigh went on out of the east gate—to the store, I suppose. Number Six didn't stop it——"
"One moment," interposed the colonel. "Sergeant-of-the-guard, take four of your men and report to Captain Sumter; or to the adjutant. Now, corporal, when was this cry heard?"
"Just after the young ladies got home, sir—leastwise that's what I was told. We didn't hear it at the guard-house."
"Was the officer-of-the-guard over there?"
"Not the—new one, sir, but——" And then the corporal suddenly stopped, contrite and troubled.
"But what?" demanded the colonel, instant suspicion in his eyes and tone. "Do you mean that Lieutenant Lanier was there—out of his quarters?"
"Out of his head, if he was," growled the paymaster, who loved him well and was deeply concerned over his trouble.
"I—I didn't see him, sir," answered the young soldier, but in manner so confused that it simply added to the commander's suspicion.