The officer eyed him sternly. ‘Justice shall be done, my man; don’t you be afraid of that,’ he said significantly.—‘Corporal!’ He gave an order in an undertone, and the corporal immediately left the tent.
In a few minutes he returned, followed by Captain Hopkins, who entered with a look of eager expectation on his face.
‘Do you recognise this man, captain?’ asked the provost-marshal.—‘You, Sykes, come forward into the light.’
‘Recognise him! I should think so,’ exclaimed Hopkins, as Ephraim obeyed the order. ‘That is the rascal who personated a sentry by the river bank, stole the despatch by means of a trick, and set my boat adrift.’
‘You are certain that you are not mistaken, captain?’
‘Absolutely. The interview was too fruitful in consequences to allow me to forget the interviewer. I would have picked this man out of a whole regiment.’
The provost-marshal looked at Ephraim. ‘You hear the charge,’ he said briefly. ‘What have you to say?’
‘Waal, I han’t denied it,’ answered Ephraim.
‘You mean that you admit that you took the despatch from Captain Hopkins. I understand you to admit that.’
‘It ain’t much use my doin’ anythin’ else, so fur ez I kin see,’ returned Ephraim. ‘Yes; I stopped him and took the despatch.’