The boatman leaned over to snatch up an oar. As he rose with it he saw Private Hal Overton rise with the corporal's revolver in his hand. "Stay where you are, Corporal, and don't make any fuss," advised Hal grimly. "Your friend had better stay where he is if he doesn't want to know what it feels like to have a bullet going through him." "Drop that gun, and let me up! Get out of my way," ordered Shrimp. "You're interfering with me in the discharge of my duty, and I'll put you both in a lot of trouble." "Don't you try to get up," ordered Noll, who had thrown himself across the corporal and was holding him down. "Sentry!" yelled Hal. "Sentry." He should have called, "Corporal of the guard!" but he didn't know that. Another shot at some distance was heard, followed by a lusty shout from a sentry of: "Corporal of the guard, post number seven!" "Let me up out of this, and I'll let you both off," proposed Corporal Simeon Shrimp. "You'll stay just where you are," ordered Hal, "and I give you my word that, if I see any signs of your trying to escape, I'll drill you through with all the bullets this revolver carries." Running feet were now coming rapidly their way. "Lemme go--boys, do," pleaded the corporal brokenly, terror ringing in his voice. "Boys, you don't know what fearful trouble you'll get me into." "That's a different song," retorted Private Hal Overton dryly. "But it wouldn't do any good to let you go now. Your friend has shoved off, and is rowing like mad." The steps of running men now came nearer. [Illustration: Both Rookies Tackled the Corporal.] "This way, Corporal of the guard!" called Private Overton. In another moment the corporal and two men of the guard raced to the spot. "This is Corporal Shrimp. He was under arrest, and trying to escape," announced Hal. "There was a friend of his here with a boat, and he's out yonder now, Corporal, trying to get away." "Load with ball cartridge, hail that boat, and fire if the man doesn't come about promptly and row in," ordered the corporal, turning to one of the members of the guard. The soldier so directed loaded his rifle like lightning. "Boat ahoy, turn about and come back!" shouted the soldier. There was no answer from the water. "Turn about and come back," repeated the soldier. Still no answer. Then, after a third hail, the soldier raised his rifle to his shoulder, sighting as best he could in the darkness. Bang! The rifle spat forth a jet of fire and sent a bullet whistling over the water. "Send a couple of more shots after him," ordered the corporal. Still no answer from out on the water. And, by this time, the boat was so far away in the darkness that it was impossible to judge in which direction to aim. "Cease firing. The rascal has escaped," said the corporal of the guard. "You are recruits, aren't you?" turning to Hal and Noll. "Yes, Corporal."