"No, sir."
"Were you captured, then?"
"No, sir," answered Haynes, the sheepish look in his face increasing. "But I'm a non-combatant, sir; ruled out of the manœuvres and ordered to stay with the wagon train, sir."
"How did that happen?" inquired the captain, though he was able to make a very good guess.
"While I was on outpost during the night, sir, my shoes were taken from me. I suspect, sir, that one of your scouts got 'em."
"But we have quartermaster's supplies along. Why didn't you draw a new pair of shoes this morning?"
"No shoes of my size, sir, in the supplies," reported Raynes, once more saluting. "So Captain Freeman told me that I certainly couldn't fight in my stocking feet. Therefore, sir, he ordered me to join the wagon train and respect all the obligations of a non-combatant."
"Too bad, too bad, Corporal, for you are a valuable man," went on Captain Cortland.
"I don't feel like one this morning, sir, after having my shoes taken," grinned the C Company corporal in embarrassment.
"Well, since you've been ordered among the non-combatants," continued Cortland, after turning slightly and espying the grinning face of Private Hal Overton, "I think the scout who captured your shoes may as well return them. But hold on. I see two other men of your company on the wagons."