r be.

"What was that row in the night, Corporal? Do you know?" Hal asked.

"What row in the night?" asked Corporal Cotter.

"Why, there was a lot of shooting, and a call for the corporal of the
guard to post number six."

"First I've heard of it," replied Corporal Cotter. "But we'll know
before long. Now, step lively, rook, for you're on duty with the rest
to-day."

By the time that Sergeant Gray's squad room emptied at the call of the
bugle it was instantly plain outside that something unusual was going
on.

A and D Companies, as they fell in, proved each to be twenty men short.

"There are extra guards out, and a picket down the road to town,"
muttered Private Hyman, who stood next to Hal in the ranks.

"What does it mean?" asked Hal Overton, but instantly his thoughts went
back to the shots and the excitement of the night.

"Silence in the ranks," growled Corporal Cotter.

But at breakfast tongues were unloosed. Hal quickly told what little he
had seen and heard in the night. Others passed the gossip that twenty
men had been silently summoned from a squad room in A Company, and
twenty more from a squad room in D Company.

"There's some mischief floating in the air--that's certain," muttered
Private Hyman.

"How did you happen to be up to see and hear it all, Overton?" demanded
Sergeant Gray.

Hal explained, frankly and briefly, but the sergeant's eyes were keenly
questioning.

Before the meal was over the company commander, Captain Cortland,
entered the room.

"Keep your seats, men. Go on with your breakfast. Sergeant Gray, I will
speak with you for a moment."

The first sergeant hastily rose, going over to his captain and saluting.
After the company commander had gone, at the end of a brief, almost
whispered conversation, Gray came back to his seat, looking wholly
mysterious.

"B Company, rise," ordered the first sergeant, at the end of the meal.
"Attention! The men of this company will have ten minutes for
recreation, then be prepared to fall in at an extra inspection on the
parade ground. After filing out of here no man will go indoors again
before inspection."

"Is it to be inspection without arms, Sergeant Gray?" called Sergeant
Hupner.

"Inspection just as you stand," replied Sergeant Gray, then gave the
marching order.

"What on earth is up, Hal?" demanded Noll, when the two young rookies
met outside of mess a few minutes later.

"I wish I knew," was Hal's puzzled reply.