Rand shook his head complacently and winked covertly at Toma.
“There! I’ve caught you, corporal. Something has happened. Have the prisoners already escaped?”
“No, they still here,” Toma denied the allegation.
Dick was not convinced. Although the high spirits of his two companions belied the supposition, he could not help feeling that something was amiss. The more he thought about it, the more perplexed he became. It was not like Corporal Rand to be so careless. Surely experience had taught him better than this.
“Corporal,” said Dick, “I think you must be keeping something from me. What is it?”
The policeman feigned annoyance.
“You’re mistaken. I can’t remember that I’ve ever given you cause to say that.”
The invalid flushed and averted his gaze. He had been sitting up, wrapped in blankets, his shoulders resting against a tree. Just then he felt sheepish and wished that he had held his tongue. He was depressed. But his mood changed suddenly—first to amazement, then to joy. He raised one trembling hand and rubbed his eyes. One long, glad cry rang from his lips:
“Sandy!”