In a jiffy Sergeant Hupner was out of bed. His groping right hand found the switch and turned on the electric lights. Then Hupner jumped for his uniform trousers and drew them on.
"What's wrong, squad room?" called the voice of the alert sentry outside.
But Hupner first went to the door of the squad room, locked it and dropped the key in his trousers' pocket. Then the sergeant ran to an open window.
"I don't believe it's anything worse than a nightmare of one of the men, sentry. Don't call the guard until I look about a bit."
"Very good, Sergeant."
Then Hupner turned to the cot of Corporal Hal Overton, which was close to the window.
"Why, Corporal, what ails you?" demanded the sergeant. "You're shaking and your face has a frightened look."
"I—I have just awakened from a pretty bad dream," Corporal Hal replied sheepishly. "I'll be over it at once."
"Turn out, Corporal, and you also, Corporal Terry. We've got to investigate in this room."
Hal instantly thrust a leg out. Something dropped to the floor.