“Yes,” said the general, abruptly; and he took up his pen and wrote something upon a piece of paper, swept some pounce over it, shook it, and gave it to his petitioner. “You can go and see it.”
“And take Sergeant Martlet with me, sir? He was my lieutenant and adviser.”
The general snatched the paper back, wrote in a line, and once more handed it.
“Yes,” he said; “but I must be strict, boy. You will have a sergeant’s guard with you all the time.”
“Of course,” said Roy; “but I am not going to try and escape to-day.”
“No,” said the general, smiling, and taking up his pen again; “you are not going to try and escape to-day.”
As Roy went away, the guard was being changed, and the place rang with the tramp of men, the officer on duty visiting the different posts and examining everything in the keenest way.
“Ah, they’re doing it right enough, Master Roy,” said Ben; and the lad started, for he had not heard the old sergeant’s approach. “Taking a lesson?”
“I was watching them, Ben.”
“Ah, and if they warn’t enemies, and taken our place, I’d say the general was a thorough good soldier, and knew what he was about.”