The adjutant bent forward, looking keenly into the rookie's eyes. Hal did not flinch, returning the gaze steadily, respectfully. Then, in a somewhat less gruff tone, Lieutenant Wright continued: "That is all for the present, Private Overton. Report to your company commander, at once." The adjutant and sergeant-major left headquarters a moment later, going by a different path. As Hal glanced down the parade ground he saw the men out of ranks, though every man was still close to his place. "Major," reported the adjutant, after the exchange of salutes between the officers, "Private Overton denies having left the squad room in the early hours this morning. For that matter, sir, if he had not been honest, he need not have reported that he was out of his bed, or that he heard the sentries' shots." "It was well he did admit that much," replied the major, "for he let it out at company mess this morning." "I went at the young recruit, sir, so severely that I was almost ashamed of myself," continued the adjutant. "I am under the impression, sir, that Private Overton told me the truth." "So am I," admitted Major Silsbee thoughtfully. "His record, so far, is against the idea of his being mixed up in rascally business. I think it likely that Private Overton's extreme fault, if he is guilty of any, is that he is possibly shielding some other soldiers whom he saw sneak back into barracks after the excitement was over. Probably he isn't even guilty of that much." "Are you going to search the squad rooms, sir?" inquired the adjutant. "Yes, Wright, though it makes me feel almost sick to put such an affront upon hundreds of innocent and decent men." "The decent ones, sir, will welcome the search." "That is what Colonel North told me. Summon the company commanders, and direct them to go into each squad room of their companies with the sergeant in charge of the squad room." Hal, in the meantime, had returned to B Company. He found many of his comrades regarding him suspiciously, and flushed in consequence. But Corporal Cotter, Private Hyman and others stepped over to him. "What's it all about, rookie? Do you know?" asked the corporal. "Not a blessed thing, Corporal," replied the young recruit. "Look! Here come the company commanders back," called another soldier, in a low tone. "Sergeant Gray and the other sergeants of B Company will follow me to barracks," called Captain Cortland. Now the curious soldiers saw each company commander, followed by his sergeants, step back to barracks. For an hour the puzzled men of the battalion waited on the parade ground. Then, in some mysterious manner, the news of what had really happened began to spread. In the night unknown men had broken into Major Silsbee's house. This had not been a difficult thing to do as, on a military post, doors are rarely locked. Not one of the three entrances to Major Silsbee's quarters had been locked at the time.