always formed in regular order to march into the dining tent there
was not the opportunity, which Percival so much desired, of pitching
the detective into the river or at least giving him a sound hissing.

"As you please, sir," the man said, as he bowed himself out. "You
cannot expect me to believe all that this young gentleman says after
what I have heard of him from-----"

"You could have consulted me, at any rate," said the doctor. "I
think I am best competent to judge of the characters of the boys
put in my charge. Good morning, sir. Boys, the bugle has sounded."

The detective went away in a hurry, looking a good deal crestfallen,
the boys getting into line with the rest, this operation preventing
Percival from giving the man the send off that he had meant to
give him.

"I'd like to know where that fellow got his information about you,
Jack," he said to his friend when they were seated at table.

"I don't care to know, Dick, so long as the doctor speaks well of
me," Jack returned.

"Well, I'd like to know just the same. There are some boys here who
would say all they could against you, and the man may have seen them
before he saw the doctor, and heard what they had to say. You could
see that he was prejudiced from the start."

"Yes, he presupposed my guilt before giving me a chance to speak for
myself, Dick. However, it is fortunate that I have a good reputation."