"Lieutenant, we desire, sir, to speak with Captain Cortland at once."
"It's as important as that?" asked Prescott.
"Judge for yourself, sir. We have just returned from C Company's camp, and we've heard Captain Freeman and his officers discussing the plan by which they expect to attack this camp to-night and bag B Company whole hog."
"You've been to C Company's camp?" repeated Lieutenant Prescott, eyeing the rookies closely. "Wasn't that exceeding your instructions by a very wide margin?"
"We didn't go there by design, sir. It's a long story."
"And you do well to remind me that I am wasting time in not calling Captain Cortland," continued the young lieutenant. "Wait here, men."
It was barely more than a minute when Lieutenant Prescott came back with Captain Cortland and Lieutenant Hampton.
"What's this I hear, Overton?" demanded B Company's commander. "C Company expects to bag us here to-night?"
"Yes, sir."
"How?"