He had little difficulty in doing this, for Chester was still making his quarters with Lieutenant Anderson. Approaching the lieutenant’s tent, Hal walked up cautiously.
“I want to surprise them,” he told himself.
Inside he heard the sound of voices, and he paused to listen.
“I’m afraid he won’t ever get back,” came Chester’s voice. “I should have insisted on accompanying him. I shouldn’t have let him go alone.”
“Still,” said Lieutenant Anderson, “he was in command. We had to obey him.”
“That is true,” replied Chester, “but just the same if ill befalls him I shall feel that I am partly to blame. Besides, we had the information we went after. What had he to gain by staying and putting himself in the enemy’s power?”
Stepping quietly into the tent, Hal advanced to the center before he was observed.
“A whole lot, Chester,” he said quietly.
Chester and Lieutenant Anderson were upon their feet in an instant, and one had him by either hand, wringing it enthusiastically.
“Stop it, stop it,” laughed Hal. “You’ll wring my arms off.”