Captain Bates fidgeted almost imperceptibly; in other words, as
much as a military man may. There were a few questions that he
wanted to ask this cadet. But it was Bates's superior officer
who was now doing the questioning.

The K.C. remained silent for perhaps half a minute. Then he said:

"That is all, at present, Mr. Prescott."

Saluting the K.C., Dick next made a slight turn which brought
him facing Captain Bates, whom he also saluted. Both officers
returned his salute. Dick wheeled and marched from the tent.

As he passed through the camp the cadet face had in it a soldierly
inexpressiveness. Even Bert Dodge, who covertly scanned Prescott
from a distance, could not guess the outcome of the "grilling."

"May I ask, Colonel, weather you agree with my opinion of Mr.
Prescott?" inquired Captain Bates.

"Your idea that he is an artful dodger?"

"Yes, sir."

"If he is," replied Lieutenant Colonel Strong, "then the young
man is so very straightforwardly artful that he is likely to give
us a mountain of mischief to handle before he is brought to book."

"If I can catch him at anything by fair means," ventured Captain
Bates, "then I am going to do it."