At the back of the courtroom there was a slight commotion. Some one there was endeavoring to push his way through the throng.
"Your honor, one moment!" called a deep, manly voice. "Before the case of the two soldiers is disposed of I wish——"
It was some one in uniform at the back of the court room. More Judge Guffey could not ascertain at that moment.
"Who spoke then?" demanded the magistrate.
"My name is Cortland, your honor. I am captain of the company to which the two corporals belong."
At the first sound of that voice Hal and Noll had turned back to the front of the pen.
"Get down below, you!" scowled the court officer.
"Will you be good enough to hold your tongue, my man?" asked Corporal Hal in a quiet voice, though his eyes flashed. "That's our captain speaking, and his is the voice we follow."
"Let the prisoners wait," directed Judge Guffey, sending the court officer an annoyed glance. "Make way for Captain Cortland to come forward."
Policeman Johnson and Bill and his friend were trying to get out of the court room, but the magistrate called to them to come back.