"Yes, sir."
"Then why, Private Overton, did you not report your information promptly to your officers?"
"Why, I did not have the least idea, sir, that Branders was still in this neighborhood, and I did not, at any time, connect him in my mind with the robberies."
"How often, and where, have you seen Branders in this part of the country?" demanded Colonel North, impressively, while the other officers looked on with keen interest.
Hal flushed, for he felt that now he was under some suspicion himself.
"I have seen Branders just once, sir," the recruit replied. "Private Terry was with me at the time."
"This man here?" inquired Colonel North, turning to glance at Noll, who stood by.
"Yes, sir."
"When did you both see Branders, then?"
"Our first day here, sir. You may recall, Colonel, that you told Terry and me that we need not go on duty that first day, but that we might have the day to ourselves, as a reward for having helped Major Davis in that mail-train affair the night before our arrival at this post."