"I had started for Barrington, sir," answered Marcy. "The commandant wouldn't give me a chance to ask permission to go."
"And so you went without it?"
"Yes, sir, I did. I was resolved to learn something about Rodney and
Dick before I slept."
"I shall be obliged to shut you up," said the captain.
"Very good, sir," replied Marcy. "But how about Rodney and Dick? Is that villain Goble to be permitted to abuse them as he pleases?"
"I am surprised at your insolence, Private Gray," said the officer sternly. "Go inside the tent under arrest."
Marcy went, and all the boys, as well as Caleb Judson, went in with him, and Captain Wilson hastened away to lay the matter before the colonel.
"Now, I'll tell you what's a fact," said Marcy. "Captain Wilson would do something for those boys if he were in command, but the colonel will not do the first thing."
"So be it," answered Billings. "Then we'll see whether or not the fellows will do something. They are not the lads I take them for if they do not rally on center the minute they find out how the land lies."
"What's up?" whispered a student, thrusting his head into the tent and then looking back to see if there was any one coming. "Who's that gentleman" (nodding at Caleb), "and what are you doing in there?"