fighting mad, and that the thing is going to be
serious?"

Well--yes; there was something of a racket below, but the orderly said
he didn't care for that, provided the Southerners would use up all the
traitors in the gang. However, he thought it best to go in with the
report, in order to save himself from being hauled over the coals for
neglect of duty. When the colonel came out of his quarters, buttoning
his uniform coat with one hand and settling his cap on his head with the
other, he found Dick standing at the top of the stairs with his hands in
his pockets, and a face as innocent as a child's.

"Graham, I am glad to see that you have nothing to do with this
disgraceful performance," said he.

"Who? Me, sir?" exclaimed Dick. "I don't fight, sir. I'm neutral, sir.
You see Missouri--"

But the colonel could not wait to hear Dick say that his State had not
yet gone out of the Union. He went down the stairs, along the hall, and
through the archway with all haste, and then Dick went, too; but he went
down the back-stairs, around the corner of the building, and brought two
boys to his side by giving a peculiar whistle.

"Everything is all right so far," whispered Dick. "But there's no
telling how long the fellows will be able to keep up the farce, now that
the colonel has gone down there, so we must be in a hurry."

"Did they do it well and without exciting suspicion?"

"First rate. Couldn't have done it better. If I hadn't been in the plot
I should have thought they were in dead earnest."

While Dick talked he led the way at top speed to the tool-house, and he
and his companions vanished through the door. When they came out again
they brought with them a light ladder that had been stored there for
safe keeping. Moving at a run, they carried it around the building and
placed it against the wall under the commandant's window. The sash was
raised, and the evening breeze was gently rustling the curtains.

"Do you know whether or not the colonel was alone in his room when you
sent the orderly in to fetch him out?" whispered one of the boys.
"Suppose he left somebody in there?"

"Or suppose he left his door open and the orderly should chance to look
in?" said the other.

"It's too late to think of those things now," replied Dick, placing his
foot on the lowest round of the ladder and turning his head to listen a
moment to the tumult of voices that came from the direction of the
parade-ground. "The fellows are at it