d.i.c.k leaped up, lighting the candle. Then he gave a slight kick that was enough to bring Holmes apart from his blanket.
Hastily, though with soldierly neatness, the two yearlings dressed themselves, then stepped out into the night, prepared to face the rapid-fire gun of official curiosity.
CHAPTER V
"I RESPECTFULLY DECLINE TO ANSWER, SIR."
"Mr. Prescott reports, sir."
"Mr. Holmes reports, sir."
Saluting, the two yearlings stepped into the tent of the O.C., then halted at attention.
Two officers returned their salutes. Captain Bates sat at his desk. Lieutenant Colonel Strong, commandant of cadets, sat back in lower chair at the right of Captain Bates"s desk.
"Mr. Prescott," began Captain Bates, transfixing the yearling with his burning eyes, "you and Mr. Holmes were close to Battle Monument when the firecrackers were discharged there this evening.
"Yes, sir," d.i.c.k admitted.
"What do you know about the affair?"
"Only this, sir: That, after pa.s.sing you, we walked along the same path until we turned in not far from the monument. We were walking toward it when we heard the discharges, and saw the flashes."
"Had you been nearer to the monument at any time through the evening, Mr. Prescott?"
"No, sir."
d.i.c.k answered with great promptness.
"Mr. Prescott, have you sufficiently considered my question and your reply?"
"Yes, sir."
"I will put a question of another kind. Did you see, do you know, or have you any knowledge of any kind, of those who placed the firecrackers by the monument, or who set them off?"
"Absolutely no knowledge, sir, on any point you mention," d.i.c.k rejoined promptly.
"Did you have any knowledge that such a breach of discipline was being planned."
"I did not, sir."
"Mr. Prescott!"
It was Colonel Strong who spoke. d.i.c.k wheeled about, saluted, then stood at attention.
"A serious offence against military discipline has been committed at Battle Monument tonight. Have you any knowledge about the matter which, if in our possession, would aid in any way in clearing up the mystery surrounding this offence?
"I have absolutely no knowledge of any form, sir, except that, as I stated, while Mr. Holmes and I were walking toward the monument, we heard the reports and saw the flashes."
"You realize the full import of your statement, Mr. Prescott?"
pressed the K.C.
"I do, sir."
"Then, on your honor as a cadet and a gentleman, you declare that your statement is true?"
"I do, sir," Cadet Prescott replied.
The pledge he had just given is the most solemn that is exacted of a United States military cadet. Usually, the cadet"s plain word is accepted as ample, for the sense of faith and honor is paramount at West Point. A cadet detected in a lie would be forced out of the cadet corps by the ostracism of his own comrades.
"That is all, for the present, Mr. Prescott."
d.i.c.k respectfully saluted the K.C., then the O.C., next wheeled and marched out of the tent, going straight to his own tent.
Prescott would gladly have remained, but he had been dismissed.
It was twenty minutes later when Greg crept back into the tent and began to undress.
"How about it?" whispered Prescott.
"I was asked more questions, but all of the same import," Holmes answered in a whisper.
"Did the O.C. make you tell on yourself, about being over by the reveille gun?"
"No; I thought some of his questions led that way, but my other answers stopped him in that line. As a last resort I would respectfully have declined to say anything to incriminate myself."
As was afterwards learned, d.i.c.k and Greg were the only witnesses examined that night. Captain Bates had followed the only trail at which he could guess, and had learned nothing.
"Mr. Prescott and Mr. Holmes both have the usual excellent reputation of cadets for truthfulness, haven"t they, Captain?" asked Colonel Strong.
"Yes, Colonel."
"Then I am afraid we shall get no further in this investigation."
"Unless, sir, my questions were so badly put as to give them a chance of shielding themselves without giving untruthful answers.
I shall sleep on this matter tonight, Colonel. I don"t want these young men to think they can put such an easy one right over my head."
"I wish you luck, Bates. But I"m afraid you"ve shot off your only round of ammunition, and have found it a blank charge. Good night."
"Good night, sir."
"Mr. Prescott was clever enough to prevent my pouncing on Mr.
Holmes at the reveille gun tonight," mused the O.C. "I can hardly suspect Mr. Prescott of untruthfulness, but I wonder whether he has been clever enough to baffle me in this monument affair, without telling an absolute untruth?"