"I would like to make a suggestion, sir," broke in Lieutenant Hal.
"Go ahead, Mr. Overton," responded the captain.
"Why not send two men at once to the telegraph station? Order the telegraph office manager to remain open all night for military telegrams. If one comes, one of our men can start here at once on the run, leaving the other soldier to wait for a second despatch that may come in its wake."
"An excellent idea, Mr. Overton," and Captain Foster immediately sent two soldiers off on that errand.
"Sir, I request permission, if it can possibly be granted, to go with Darrin, Prescott and Holmes," broke in Lieutenant Noll.
"You may have that leave, certainly, Mr. Terry," replied Captain Foster.
"And I, also, Captain," broke in Hal eagerly, "since this affair involves the lives of the intended brides of two officers, and is most certainly a service affair."
"I fear you have forgotten something, Mr. Overton," replied Captain Foster gently. "You are now confined to camp, under charges."
Hal fell back, going suddenly white and staggering as though he had received a blow. In truth he had.
"I forgot," he assented wretchedly. "And, oh, this is hard, sir. I am wholly innocent of the charge, and yet of course you have no right to take my mere word. This, in the face of a desperate expedition that I want to join more than I ever wanted anything in my life as a soldier!"