"I can sympathize with you," said Jack.

During the morning Percival saw Bucephalus alone, and said to him,
holding one hand behind his back:

"Was it your idea to keep guard last night, Buck?"

"No, sah, Ah was ready to do it, 'cause young Mistah Smith done
offah me a dollah fo' de service, but de doctah done intimate dat
he t'ought it would be judicious."

"How did the doctor know that we needed a picket?"

"Ah donno, sah, Ah reckon he thought it was acco'din to military
etiquette, sah. It am de custom in military camps to set a picket
an' all presume he argued from dose premises, sah."

"Then you did not tell him of what occurred the other night?"

"No, sah, Ah didn't communicate nothing, sah. Mebbe it was one
of de odah fellahs."

"You are sure that you said nothing?"

"Yas'r, Ah is suttinly shuah dat Ah made no communication whatsoeber
regardin' de events of de perceedin' night, sah. Ah was suttin
dat young Mistah Smith would keep his wo'd abo 't de extra
remuneration, sah, an' Ah didn't wanter prejudice de situation, sah."

"Oh, I see," laughed Dick. "Then Dr. Wise acted on his own initiative