ome information we want."

"Oh, all right, if that's the case," said the watchman, and allowed
them to pass.

As stated before, the colonel and his family, along with a number of
the professors, lived in a building some distance away from the Hall
proper. Crossing the campus, the boys noted a light in the colonel's
library, and presented themselves at the door of this place, and
knocked.

"Come in," called out Colonel Colby.

They found the head of Colby Hall seated at his desk, looking over a
number of private papers and accounts. He looked up questioningly, and
then smiled as he recognized his visitors.

"Got your news from home, I suppose," he said, after motioning them to
seats. "I knew it was coming."

"It's great news, Colonel Colby!" cried Jack, his eyes shining. "Here
is the telegram. You see it says you will give us more information. Of
course, both Fred and I are curious to know all the particulars."

"I'll be glad to tell you all I can, boys," answered Colonel Colby.
"And first of all let me say that I have also volunteered, and I, too,
have been commissioned."

"Isn't that fine!" exclaimed Fred. "Are you going with our fathers?"

"Yes. And I may as well tell you a little secret. Quite a crowd of us,
all former pupils of Putnam Hall, have volunteered, and we hope to go
into the war together."

"May I ask what sort of commission my father obtained?" questioned
Jack.

"He has been made a captain and your Uncle Sam has been made a
lieutenant."

"A lieutenant!" said Fred. "Well, that's something anyhow!"

"And what about you, if I may ask?" continued Jack.

"I, too, have been made a captain."

"Who of the others of the Old Guard are going?" asked Fred.

"Oh, there are quite a number, including Harry Blossom, Bart Conners,
Dave Kearney, and Hans Mueller."

"For gracious sake! you don't mean that Hans Mueller is going?"
queried Jack. He had often heard of this German-American who had been
a school chum of his father. Mueller had never learned to use the
English language correctly, and had been intensely German in many of
his ways.

"Yes, Hans Mueller has volunteered," answered Colonel Colby. "But he
is going into the heavy artillery, so I'm afraid your fathers and I
won't see very much of him. In spite of his German blood, Hans Mueller
is very patriotic, and that counts for a good deal."

"I should say it did!" said Fred.

"And what about Mr. Powell and Mr. Garrison?" questioned Jack.