"So are we," retorted Noll, pursing his lips. "And the best crowd will win."
"Or else the crowd whose witnesses won't hesitate to perjure themselves," Hal muttered.
As the Army boys had just been appointed officers, the immediate present was the best time for getting them out of the service if they were not worthy of places in it. So the War Department acts with unusual speed in such matters. Within a week from the time of receiving the complaint the court of inquiry, composed of three officers sent over from Army Headquarters in New York, was on the scene.
The mayor offered the court the use of one of the council chambers at the city hall, and the offer was accepted.
"We shall soon know," remarked the Sphere, "what the national government's idea of justice is. The culprits face their ordeal to-day!"
At nine o'clock that morning, in fact, Major Elbert, president of the court, rapped for order.
CHAPTER V
THE WAR DEPARTMENT SAYS ITS SAY
FOR witnesses Bunny had rounded up all of his gang of that notable night, with the one exception of Skinny Carroll. It would never do to have Carroll go on the stand and admit that he had been posted as a lookout.