“Gebauer and Poole! You don’t mean it!” exclaimed the young lieutenant.
“But I do mean it,” answered the senator’s son. “They are the ones who attacked you and rolled you down one of the shafts of the mines. It’s a great wonder you weren’t killed.”
“But how did you learn of this, Roger?”
“It’s a pretty long story, Dave; and as you look rather weak, perhaps you had better sit down while I tell it.”
Roger and the others led the way to where our hero could be made comfortable, and there, while he was treated to some refreshments, they gave him many of the particulars of what had occurred during his absence.
“I guess I had better tell you about Max Gebauer first,” said the senator’s son. “During one of the advances of our army, he acted in a most disgraceful manner, urging a part of his company to retreat. They saw no good reason for doing it, and a sergeant led them in the advance. For this Gebauer was accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy.”
“Phew! that’s rather a serious charge.”
“But that isn’t the worst of it!” broke in Phil. “Do you remember the German prisoner who saw Gebauer and talked to him—the fellow you afterwards interviewed?”
“I do.”
“Well, it seems Gebauer visited that fellow while he was at a prisoners’ camp, and the two got into a regular row. This, of course, was before Gebauer showed his so-called cowardice.