"I guess I know," nodded Private Hyman, "though not from associating with any of them."
Three other men were quickly detailed. While the men of this detachment were arming themselves, Hupner hastened to Sergeant Gray for a list of the delinquents.
"Fall in. By twos right, march!"
Hupner led his detachment from camp, and was nearly a hundred yards on his way when the bugler blew the call for assembly.
A military commander, even a corporal or sergeant, is expected to get his command in action with the loss of not even seconds.
And a very business-like looking little force this was. Not a man carried a rifle. Instead, each man had drawn a revolver, which now dangled in holster from his belt. Each soldier also wore at the belt a pair of handcuffs, though these would be used only on troublesome prisoners.
"Squad halt!"
The marching men were about a mile out of Mason City when this command came.
Sergeant Hupner, in the lead, had caught a glimpse of a sight that was soon after revealed to the halted men.
Around a bend in the road, beside a jutting piece of higher ground, lurched an unsteady figure.