‘Captain,’ he cried, ‘that man is a liar. Here is General Shields’s own order.’ He thrust a paper into the captain’s hand.
‘Bullee!’ chuckled Ephraim. ‘So ye got thet, too, Luce. By time! thet’ll upset him.’
Captain Peters took the paper and read aloud: ‘“Colonel Spriggs—If you come up with the two men who escaped from the balloon this morning, you will detain them as prisoners, and bring them before me without taking further action.”—This appears to be addressed to you, colonel,’ he finished, looking up.
Spriggs advanced upon him, and simply tore the paper from his hand. ‘You impertinent puppy,’ he raved, ‘if it is addressed to me, what do you mean by reading it?’ He glanced over the paper and his countenance changed, but he recovered himself. ‘You greenhorn,’ he continued bitterly, ‘did it never occur to you to ask yourself how this precious document came into that rascal’s hands? Are you familiar with General Shields’s handwriting?’
‘No,’ answered the captain; ‘but’——
‘Well, I am, sir, and I declare this thing to be an impudent forgery. Pah! You call yourself a soldier, and allow yourself to be taken in by such a trick.’
‘It is not a forgery,’ cried Lucius. ‘Certainly, the general did not know that we were the escaped prisoners, but he gave my chum the paper, all the same. It’s the truth, upon my honour.’
Captain Peters looked puzzled, as well he might. ‘I don’t understand you,’ he began, when the colonel at a white heat broke in again.
‘Captain Peters,’ he roared, ‘do your duty.’
Captain Peters hesitated for the last time. He was very young, very sympathetic, and he did not know his position with regard to Colonel Spriggs. But he did know what would be the consequences to himself of disobedience on what was practically the field of battle. Finally he said: ‘Colonel, this appears to be a very curious and unusual case. Would it not be better, if I may say so, to refer it back to the provost-marshal?’