"Very good, sir," replied young Holmes, saluting.
Freeman and his second lieutenant hurried away to execute the orders without loss of time.
At the sound of the shots many of the men from barracks had run out into the street to see if they could find any explanation of the hostile sounds.
"Second platoon, C Company, fall in!" rang the order, repeated three or four times.
That caught several of the curious ones in the street, calling them to the parade ground.
Acting First Sergeant Hal Overton, B Company, was among those in the street. And he was the first to catch sight of a horse coming up the road at a wavering gallop.
"We'll soon know," the Army boy called to those nearest him. "This looks like a messenger coming."
The man who was astride the horse, and who was attired in white duck blouse and trousers, was bending forward over the neck of the animal.
"Second platoon, fall in!" rang Greg Holmes's command on the parade ground, showing how quickly military orders may be carried out.
"The messenger is bleeding," cried Hal. "I can see the stains on his white clothing. And the horse has been hit, too!"