Prescott was always the artful dodger." "What do you mean by that!" asked Harper.

"You don't mean that Prescott is untruthful." "Oh, no, not at all," laughed Bert.

"But, if I could put him on the rack, and get the whole thing, unreservedly, out of Richard Prescott, I'd be willing to bet, in advance, that he knows just who set off the cannon crackers last night." Dodge was careful not to speak so that he could be overheard by Prescott or Furlong, yet he was certain that, on the still morning air around the guard tent, his voice was carrying sufficiently to penetrate to the other side of the khaki walls of the O.C.'s tent.
"Prescott is the clever one, and the loyal one to all but tacs.," laughed Bert to Harper, as he strolled away.

Dodge hoped that the O.C.was in his tent.
It is true---Captain Bates was there.

Having drawn the flap, and being in the act of enjoying his morning newspaper, the O.C.
heard.
"Hang it, I felt last night that, while answering me truthfully, Mr.Prescott was proving the possession of sufficient cleverness to keep me off the monument trail, just as he foiled my catching Mr.Holmes," mused the O.C.