"You may thank your deliverers." Then, indeed, the other yearlings pressed about Prescott and Holmes, hugging them and patting them extravagantly.
When Lieutenant Topham returned to his tent, he found Captain Bates there, with a visitor.

By the time that he had stepped inside, Topham also discovered the presence of the K.C.

likewise engaged.
"I've just had a good lesson in the pranks that a man's eyes and ears may play upon him," announced Topham, unbelting his sword.
Then he related, with relish, the occurrence at Dunstan's tent.
"Humph!" grunted Captain Bates.

"You say Mr.Prescott was there ?" "Yes, Captain." "Then, Topham, you didn't really see very much of what happened, after all," half jeered Captain Bates.

"If Prescott was there, the crowd had a plebe on hand, depend on it." "But I would have seen the plebe." "Not when you have to contend with a man like Mr.Prescott! If he had a tenth of a second's warning it would be enough for him to roll the plebe out at the back of the tent." "Now, I think of it," confessed Lieutenant Topham slowly, "I think I did hear a slight sound at the back of the tent." "You didn't investigate that sound, Mr.Topham ?" "Why, no, sir.