"We accomplished an arrest for the county, at the request of the local deputy sheriff, sir."
Captain Cortland frowned slightly.
"Ordinarily, Mr. Prescott, that is no part of a soldier's business. But I feel certain that you must have had excellent reasons for acting before you had explained to me the circumstances in the matter?"
"Under the circumstances, sir, as I had the use of the telegraph, I found it much easier to communicate with Colonel North at Fort Clowdry."
"Oh, you did that, Mr. Prescott?"
"Yes, sir. I trust that was not the wrong course to take. I wanted to save time, and so used the wire straight to regimental headquarters."
"That was perfectly proper, Mr. Prescott," nodded Captain Cortland. "So you had Colonel North's permission to aid the county authorities?"
"Yes, sir; on condition that we acted as volunteer county peace officers, and not as soldiers. I have preserved Colonel North's dispatch, sir. Here it is."
"Come over to the tent, Mr. Prescott. I am anxious to hear about the whole affair."
As Captain Cortland listened to the young officer's narration of what had taken place, he opened his eyes a bit wider.