"It's a frame-up, I am certain, but the prisoner, Ruggles, claimed that he gave the lieutenant five thousand dollars last night to fix it to let him, Ruggles, escape the consequences of smuggling arms over the border."
"What a silly lie!" sputtered Sergeant Kelly. "And did your captain believe a fool's fairy-tale like that?"
"He wouldn't have," replied the corporal, "only the lieutenant was searched, and the money was found hidden in his revolver holster."
"In the holster, say ye?" demanded Sergeant Kelly, with a flash of his eyes. The next words he uttered came in a shout:
"Binns, ye lop-sided shadow of a rookie!" he bellowed.
"Here, Sarge," answered a soldier, across a row of tents. "And what's got on your temper, Sarge?"
"Come here and ye'll be finding out!" growled Kelly, making a grab for the soldier. He caught that mystified fighting man, and, without a word, dragged him before Captain Foster.
"Salute the captain, ye deaf-mute!" ordered Kelly, letting go of the soldier and bringing his own hand up smartly to the brim of his cap.
"What's the meaning of these lightning tactics, Sergeant?" demanded Captain Foster.
"The meaning is, sir," ran on Kelly rapidly, "that I want this man to tell you something."