CHARGED WITH A SECRET MISSION Having ascertained from the captain of his troop that the order brought by Major Dodley was one that must be obeyed, Ridge went below with a very heavy heart to collect his scanty possessions.

As he did so his thoughts were full of bitterness.

Why should any one be sent back to that hateful camp, and for what reason had he been singled out from all his fellows?
It looked as though he were being disgraced, or at least chosen for some duty that would keep him from going to Cuba, which would be almost as bad.

At the same time he could not imagine what he had done to incur the displeasure of his superiors.

It was all a mystery, and a decidedly unpleasant one.