“That looks like a pretty safe prediction,” the other man responded, “but where on earth have you been. I’ve been hunting you and Ollie Ogden for half an hour. Major Barton, down at the hospital, sent me after you two and Tom Walton. Just found Tom, but do you know where Ogden is?” “Right there,” answered Harper, for Ollie had at that moment arrived from another direction and was standing almost directly behind the man who bore the message. “Major Barton wants to see us at the hospital,” Harper explained. “I wonder what he wants us for.” “Why,” Ollie answered quickly, “Major Barton was the surgeon who treated that Frenchman we found under the cow-shed. Do you suppose it is in reference to that?” “It must be,” said George, “although at the time I did not connect the two things. Do you know where Tom is? The summons also included him.” “Yes, just down the line here,” Ollie replied, at the same time leading the way toward where Major Barton awaited them. “Maybe that poor Frenchman has died,” was Harper’s comment, after they had told Tom their own speculations as to the call for their presence at the hospital. “I sincerely hope not,” said Tom, “although it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if he failed to survive such barbarous punishment as that. He was more dead than alive when we reached him. By the way, where is Buck Granger?” “Captured,” answered Ollie Ogden, without an instant’s hesitation. “What’s that?” the other two demanded of him in unison, coming to an abrupt halt and turning to face the bearer of this rather startling news. “What did you say?” Harper asked again, unable to believe that he had heard right. “Captured,” Ollie repeated briefly. “Well holy cats, when and where?” Tom exploded. “I didn’t know there were any Germans in this immediate vicinity, except those who are our prisoners.” “I don’t believe there are,” answered Ollie, making desperate efforts to repress a grin. “Look here,” George Harper exclaimed impatiently, at the same time grasping Ollie by the shoulder, “quitcherkiddinow, wadayamean, Buck Granger’s captured?” “You talk like a machine gun,” Ollie responded, sparring for time. “I meant exactly what I said—Buck was captured.” “When?” Tom Walton demanded. “About an hour ago.” “Where?” “Oh, only a short distance from where I was.” “Who captured him?” Ollie made ready for a quick dive away from the immediate reach of his two companions. “One of the field hospital outfit,” he answered quickly, at the same time jumping to safer quarters. “Said he had no business out for another day or two, with his wound.” Whatever pleasant hostilities Tom and George may have contemplated were abandoned with their arrival at that moment at the place to which Major Barton had summoned them. They entered in silence, and the major met them at the door. “I’m glad you came when you did,” he greeted them, “but weren’t there four of you? Where is the other man?”