A momentary glance was exchanged, and then he walked away and sat down in a quiet corner of the yard and cut open the melon.

As he expected, he found a note rolled up in the center.

A small piece of the rind had been cut out and the pulp removed for its reception.

The bit of rind had then been carefully replaced so that the cut would not be noticed without close inspection.
It was from one of his fellow-officers, and was dated the day after his capture.

He read as follows: "My Dear Wingfield: "We are all delighted this afternoon to hear that instead, as we had believed, of your being knocked on the head you are a prisoner among the Yanks.