[CHAPTER XVIII]
A STAB IN THE BACK
Jerry Hopkins was of two minds. He knew his orders as sentry required him to challenge any one trying to pass in or out of camp after hours without a pass. And it did not seem likely that these persons, whoever they were, would act so suspiciously if they had passes. In fact, one came from the direction of the barracks, and the other from the town, which lay about three miles from camp.
On the other hand, Jerry knew that often some of the boys stayed in town beyond the legal hour, and tried to run past the guard without getting caught, for in the latter event it meant punishment for being out after taps.
The soldier boys were but human, and, naturally, they did not want to see their fellow soldiers get into trouble. So it was sometimes the custom not to look too closely when some of the late-stayers tried to run guard.
“If that’s all it is, I guess I can find something to do at the other end of my post,” thought Jerry, for he felt that, some day, he might want a similar favor.
But as he was debating with himself he heard Ned approaching, and he waited.
“Everything all right?” asked Ned in a low voice.
“Well, not exactly,” was the answer. “Did you see anything suspicious?”
“Suspicious? No.”