"There's one good thing about this style of campaigning, sir," smiled Prescott, "It isn't eating up any more men in casualties."
"No; but the datto is figuring that he's letting us eat up our rations."
There were no attacks that afternoon or evening. The next morning Captain Freeman hesitated as to whether or not he should send out a party in force to "locate and develop" the enemy. But he decided not to do so.
"To-morrow, though," declared the captain to his lieutenants, "we'll break through the line somewhere."
That third night Sergeant Hal was placed in charge of the guard, with Lieutenant Greg Holmes as his direct superior. On the side of camp where the commanding officer thought the enemy most numerous, Hal placed Corporal Duxbridge in charge.
"Don't close your eyes to-night, Corporal," warned the young sergeant. "You can get your sleep in the daytime. This is the point where the greatest vigilance is needed. This point is really the key to the camp, and every man who lies down to sleep to-night leaves his life in your hands."
"All right," replied Corporal Duxbridge in a voice that sounded weary.
"You'll be sure to keep awake?"
"I know my business, Sergeant."
Hal Overton did not particularly like Duxbridge. He belonged to C Company, and was a man subject to occasional fits of crankiness. But Duxbridge, as well as the others, had his share of duty to perform.