All three waited, to see if one of the others wished to speak first. After waiting a moment or two Colonel Cleaves asked: "Captain Prescott, it was you who struck the knock-down blow, was it not?" "Yes, sir," Dick answered promptly, "though it followed a parry, and was more of a thrust than a blow." "You agree to that, Captain Cartwright?" quizzed the K.O. "Essentially so, sir." "There had been a quarrel, had there not?" "I made a reply to a remark by Captain Cartwright, sir," Greg supplied, "which, he felt justified in construing as offensive, though I did not so intend it. I was annoyed at what I felt to be an insinuation. Then Captain Prescott came out of his quarters, sir, and caught Captain Cartwright's wrist. When Captain Prescott released it, Captain Cartwright struck at him. The blow was parried, and Captain Cartwright struck once more. That blow was also parried, and Captain Cartwright went to the floor." "Do you concur in that, Captain Cartwright?" asked the K.O. "Yes, sir." "By the way, Captain Prescott," went on Colonel Cleaves, handing him a small piece of paper, "can you account for this?" As Dick Prescott took the paper and glanced at it he felt himself turning almost dizzy in bewilderment. CHAPTER IV AS IT IS DONE IN THE ARMY "That is your handwriting, is it not, Captain Prescott?" demanded the regimental commander. "It looks just like my handwriting, sir, but I'll swear that I never wrote it," declared astonished Dick, still staring at the little piece of paper. "Yet it resembles your handwriting?" "Yes, sir. If I didn't know positively that I didn't write any such message then I'd be about ready to admit that it is my handwriting. But I didn't write it, sir." "Pass it to Captain Holmes. I will ask him if he has seen this note before." "No, sir," declared Greg, very positively, though he, too, was startled, for it was hard to persuade himself that he was not looking down at his chum's familiar handwriting. The note read: _"Dear H. Stick to what we agreed upon, and we can cook C's goose without trouble. P."_ "May I speak, sir?" asked Dick. "Yes, Captain." "Then I desire to say, sir, that I have not the least desire to see Captain Cartwright in any trouble. Hence, it would have been impossible for me to think of writing such a note. More, sir, it would have been stupid of me to risk writing such a note, for Captain Holmes and I sat in my quarters until it was time for us to leave on our way to our respective company offices." "And while in your quarters did you discuss this affair of your trouble with Captain Cartwright?" "To the best of my recollection, sir, we did not mention it," Dick declared. "Is that your recollection, Captain Holmes?" "Yes, sir." "And this is not your handwriting, Captain Prescott?" "I give you my word of honor, sir, that I did not write it, and did not even discuss the matter with Captain Holmes."