"We might look him up," replied Ralph, and they were quickly out of the room and prancing across the parade ground toward the commandant's quarters, where the main offices were located. As it was past nine at night they had some difficulty in locating Joe, but he was eventually found, and at eleven o'clock they left the quarters in the rear of the hangars, and marched across the ground in the direction of their building. Turning the corner they were confronted by an individual who caused the boys to gasp. It was the peddler,—the identical individual they had followed during the day. He glanced at the boys, then turned and hurried away. "We mustn't let him get away this time," said Ralph. The man evidently heard Ralph's voice, for he hurried his steps. "Halt!" cried Alfred. The man paid no attention to the command. "Halt or we'll shoot!" shouted Ralph. The man hesitated, then stopped and turned around. "Face the other way," shouted Ralph. The man obeyed. Neither of the boys were armed. It was an awkward position. "Run for the captain," said Ralph in a whisper. Alfred quietly walked around the corner and fairly flew across the ground. "We've got him; come on quickly," said Alfred in excitement, as he burst into the captain's room without waiting for an invitation. The captain was about to retire, and jumped up with a roar of laughter as he recognized Alfred. "Who is it? What is up?" asked the captain. "The peddler!" replied Alfred. "I'll be there as soon as I can get something on," said the captain. "Then I'll borrow this," said Alfred, seizing the heavy army revolver, "if I may." He rushed out of the door without waiting to get the desired permission, and reached the corner of the building just as Ralph was shouting: "Halt, I say!" Evidently the man began to doubt the authority or the sincerity of his would-be captor, for he turned just as Alfred emerged from the corner. One look was sufficient. The peddler bolted for the shelter of the buildings to the left. Alfred raised the revolver and fired. The man stopped. "Come this way!" ordered Ralph. The shot at such a time was sufficient warning for the guards and the officers. They swarmed from all sides, as the boys advanced toward the peddler. One of the first to arrive was the captain, half-dressed. He was the only one who understood the meaning of the shot. Alfred handed him the weapon, and in another moment the peddler was in the hands of the captain and on the way to the lock-up. As they marched across the ground the colonel ran up. "What's this!" he asked the boys, as they were following the captain and the prisoner. "We have him this time," said Ralph. "Who?" asked the colonel. "The real peddler," said Alfred.