rather
more than their share already in the fighting we've had, and have been
very largely responsible for our victory. There may be more work to do
to-morrow, but I doubt it. I think myself that the umpires will call the
invasion off to-morrow, and devote the rest of the time to field
training for both armies, working together.
"About all the lessons that the war can teach have been learned by both
sides already, and the training is useful, even when the war game itself
is over. That's only a guess, of course, but if we are in a position
to-morrow that leaves General Bliss as small a chance for getting away
as seems likely now, I think the umpires will feel that there is no use
in going through the form of further fighting. We are masters of the
situation now, and our superiority in numbers is so great that there
will be very little that is instructive about a further campaign."
Then Jack asked Captain Durland and Dick Crawford if he could speak to
them apart, and when the Scout-Master consented, he told them of his
interview with Broom.
"That's a queer shift for him to make," said Durland, thoughtfully.
"It's true, of course, that he was in a good position to make an attack
on you this morning. But it's also possible that he was alone, and
didn't have any help handy. I don't think he'd ever try any of his dirty
work single-handed. He's a good deal of a coward, and he likes to have a
lot of help when he tries anything, so that there is practically no
chance for his opponent. His idea is to fight when he is in overwhelming
force, and only then. What do you think of it, Dick?"
"I don't trust him, sir, and yet, if it is at all possible that he has
given up his designs against Jack and is willing to tell him what we are
so anxious to find out, it would be a great pity to let the chance
slip."
"That's what I think, sir," said Jack. "Pete Stubbs and Tom Binns heard
him, and they think I ought not to meet him. But I'm afraid he's right,
and that if I didn't do it, I'd always regret it."
"It seems safe enough," said Durland. "He didn't insist on your meeting
him alone. He probably knew that you wouldn't do that, anyhow, and took
the only chance he had of persuading you, but I don't see what harm
could come to you if you went to meet him with Dick Crawford and myself,
and perhaps two or three others, to see that there was no foul play."
"It's risky to have any dealings with him at all, I think," said Dick
Crawfor
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