"Come, come, my man," retorted Lieutenant Wright, "that much won't do. Out with the rest of it."
"There isn't any 'rest of it' that I know of, sir," Private Hal answered respectfully.
"Now, my man——"
With that preliminary Lieutenant Wright proceeded to put the young recruit through a severe, grilling cross-examination. But Hal kept his head through it all, insisting that he had told all he knew.
"Overton," rapped in the adjutant, at last, "you are very new to the Army, and you don't appear to realize all the facilities we have for compelling men to speak. If you remain obtuse any longer, it may be necessary for me to order you to the guard-house under confinement."
"I am very sorry, Lieutenant," Hal replied, flushing, "that you will not believe me. On my word of honor as a soldier I have told you all that I know of the matter."
The adjutant bent forward, looking keenly into the rookie's eyes. Hal did not flinch, returning the gaze steadily, respectfully.
Then, in a somewhat less gruff tone, Lieutenant Wright continued:
"That is all for the present, Private Overton. Report to your company commander, at once."
The adjutant and sergeant-major left headquarters a moment later, going by a different path. As Hal glanced down the parade ground he saw the men out of ranks, though every man was still close to his place.