"Well, we know it was the right spot," replied Alfred. "The German battery there was literally wiped out."
"How did you learn that?" asked the commandant with the greatest eagerness.
"We learned it from Captain Winston; he told us about it since the accident," said Ralph.
"I know it from another source," replied Alfred.
"Where? What?" asked the colonel, in astonishment.
"The German lieutenant whom we captured this morning told me on the way over, that of the six guns they had south of the hill there wasn't enough left to gather up, and that was the main reason why they started the drive that failed so miserably," said Alfred.
"But the orderly said some friends were up here to see us," said Ralph.
"Yes; I brought them over with me; they were afraid you'd get into more trouble," said the colonel, as he opened a door leading into an adjoining room.
Ralph stepped forward with some curiosity on his countenance. He could not speak as his mother appeared and rushed toward him.
"Oh, you're not my boy any more," she sobbed, as she embraced him and held him at arm's length for a moment.