“No.”
“Why not? Was he shot or captured?” queried Phil.
“No, he wasn’t shot or captured,” grumbled the money lender’s son. “He has lost his commission and been sent to the rear, if you must know!” he flared out.
“You don’t say!” burst out Roger and Phil simultaneously. Here was news indeed.
“What caused it, Nat? He must have done something awful to have such a thing happen to him,” remarked Ben.
“They said it was for cowardice in the face of the enemy. I don’t know anything about it, because I wasn’t with our company at the time. I ate something that didn’t agree with me and was on the sick list.”
“Who made the charge against Gebauer?” asked Roger, quickly.
“The major of our battalion. He was as mad as a hornet. Some one said he threatened to shoot the lieutenant. It seems Gebauer gave some sort of an order for the men to retreat when everybody wanted to advance. I guess he was terribly scared. Anyway, he started to run, and that threw all the men into confusion until the top sergeant came along and rallied our boys and sent them ahead again. It was a fierce mix-up, and Gebauer got it not only from the major, but also from the captain and some of the other officers of the regiment. Then they took him to headquarters, and the next thing I knew he had been sent to the rear.”
“Well, that sure is a come-down for Gebauer,” murmured Phil. “Gee! I wouldn’t have that happen to me for the world.”
“He’ll be disgraced for the rest of his life,” added Ben.