Stillness settled over the encampment.
The fact that a single candle remained lighted in Prescott's tent showed that he had permission to run a light.

The assumption would be that he was engaged on some official duty, though the fact of running a light did not in any way betray the nature of that duty.
Dick sat inside at first.

Then, one by one, the cadets returning from the hop stepped through the company streets.

At last Greg Holmes came in.
"Still engaged, Holmesy ?" asked Dick, looking up with a quizzical smile.
"Surest thing on the post!" returned Greg, with a radiant smile.
He had the look of being a young man very much in love and utterly happy over his good fortune.
"Going to run a light ?" asked Holmes, gaping, as he swiftly disrobed.
"Yes; but I'll throw the tin can around so that the blaze won't be in your eyes." "It won't anyway," retorted Greg, turning down the cover of his bed.

"I'll turn my back on the glim." The "tin can" is a device time-honored among cadets in the summer encampment.