"Pardon me for reading it," he said.
Then a smile broke over his features.
"It's O. K.," he announced, dropping the paper to his lap. Then he picked it up again, saying:
"Listen!"
This was the dispatch that he read, addressed to himself and signed by Colonel North:
"Permission granted to yourself and Privates Overton and Terry to make arrest if possible, but only after all three have been legally sworn in as special deputy sheriffs of the county. Obey and submit to the civil authorities in every way."
"Hurrah!" Hal could not restrain himself from saying.
"What a bully old colonel commands 'Ours,'" breathed Noll Terry.
"Ours" is the term given his regiment by every soldier, whether officer or enlisted man.
"I'm glad to see, men, that you're pleased. Now, as I thought might be possible when leaving Mr. Coates, we shall have to see him again for just a moment."