"At the time when I called upon the cadet sentry to apprehend Mr.Jordan, I had not the remotest idea that it was Mr.Jordan." "Then," asked Durville bluntly, "how did you, who were not the cadet officer of the day, happen to be where you could catch Mr.
Jordan so neatly ?" "In that matter I have no explanation to offer," Prescott replied.
One less a stickler for duty than Prescott might have replied that he had been on the spot the night before in obedience to a special order from the officer in charge.
Dick Prescott, however, felt that to make such a statement would be a breach of military faith.

The order that he had received from Lieutenant Denton he looked upon as a confidential military order that could not be discussed, except on permission or order from competent military sources.
"Now, Prescott," continued Cadet Durville almost coaxingly, "we don't want to be hard on you, and we don't want to do anything under a misapprehension.

Can't you be more explicit ?" "I have already regretted my inability to go further into the matter with you," Dick replied, pleasantly though firmly.
"And you can give us no explanation whatever of how you came to report Jordan for being beyond the camp limits ?" "All I am able to tell you is that my reporting of Mr.Jordan was a regrettable but military necessity." "Is that all we wish to ask, gentlemen ?" inquired Durville, turning to his six companions.
"It ought to be," retorted Brown dryly.
The seven nodded very coldly.

Durville turned on his heel, leading the others away.
"Unless I'm a poor kitchen judge, old ramrod, your goose is cooked," muttered Greg Holmes mournfully.
"Then it will have to be," spoke Dick resolutely.
"But you haven't told even me how you came to be, last night, just where you could fall afoul of Jordan so nicely." "Old chum," cried Dick, turning and resting a hand on Greg's right arm, "I can discuss that matter no further with you than I did with the class committee." "You're a queer old extremist, anyway, with all your notions of duty and other bugaboos.

This affair has given me the shivers." "Then cheer up, Holmesy!" laughed Cadet Captain Prescott.
"Oh, it's you I'm shivering for," muttered Greg..