This was a shot on the part of the provost-marshal, for he had as yet no means of knowing that Ephraim and the man who had stopped Captain Hopkins were one and the same. As Ephraim did not answer, he went on: ‘Have you got the despatch, corporal?’ ‘No, sir,’ replied the corporal. ‘I was busy attending to his wound and bringing him here.’ ‘Search him, then.’ The corporal searched Ephraim literally down to his skin, and to the surprise of no one more than the Grizzly himself, discovered nothing. ‘They must hev dropped out while the row war goin’ on,’ thought Ephraim; for it never crossed his mind that by an accidental exchange of belts the papers had come into Luce’s hands. Had he suspected this, he would have felt miserable indeed. ‘What have you done with that despatch, you fellow? What is your name?’ asked the provost-marshal angrily. ‘Ephraim Sykes,’ answered the Grizzly, paying no attention to the more important question. ‘Psha! Where is the despatch?—Well, do you not intend to answer?’ For still Ephraim held his peace. ‘I told ye the truth jest now,’ said Ephraim at last. ‘I war tryin’ ter git out er your lines, whar I come without any wish er my own. I hevn’t got any despatch, ez ye kin see.’ ‘What have you done with it, then?’ inquired the provost-marshal impatiently. ‘I hevn’t said I ever had it,’ answered Ephraim, anxious to gain time. ‘Ef ye air so ready ter accuse me, ye’d better start in and prove me guilty. I’m not supposed ter do it fer ye, I reckon.’ The officer eyed him sternly. ‘Justice shall be done, my man; don’t you be afraid of that,’ he said significantly.—‘Corporal!’ He gave an order in an undertone, and the corporal immediately left the tent. In a few minutes he returned, followed by Captain Hopkins, who entered with a look of eager expectation on his face. ‘Do you recognise this man, captain?’ asked the provost-marshal.—‘You, Sykes, come forward into the light.’ ‘Recognise him! I should think so,’ exclaimed Hopkins, as Ephraim obeyed the order. ‘That is the rascal who personated a sentry by the river bank, stole the despatch by means of a trick, and set my boat adrift.’ ‘You are certain that you are not mistaken, captain?’ ‘Absolutely. The interview was too fruitful in consequences to allow me to forget the interviewer. I would have picked this man out of a whole regiment.’ The provost-marshal looked at Ephraim. ‘You hear the charge,’ he said briefly. ‘What have you to say?’ ‘Waal, I han’t denied it,’ answered Ephraim. ‘You mean that you admit that you took the despatch from Captain Hopkins. I understand you to admit that.’ ‘It ain’t much use my doin’ anythin’ else, so fur ez I kin see,’ returned Ephraim. ‘Yes; I stopped him and took the despatch.’ ‘Good! Your intention, of course, was to deliver it to the enemy?’ ‘Nary a doubt er thet,’ admitted Ephraim. ‘By whom you were commissioned to enter our lines and collect whatever information you could?’