“I was looking at the battle,” answered Gilbert.
“Who gave you permission to come in this building?”
“Nobody, but as I found it wide open I thought there would be no harm in coming in.”
The corporal muttered several words Gilbert did not catch. Then he turned to the privates behind him.
“See that this man does not get away,” he said.
“Do you mean to say that you are going to detain me?” cried the young American. He did not like the appearance of the Russians, or the black looks they gave him.
“And why not? For all we know you may be a spy,” and the corporal leered suspiciously at Gilbert.
“I am no spy.”
“Have you been making signals from this tower?”
“No.”