ioned officers they very
often returned without having accomplished anything, but when they were
commanded by sergeants or corporals they were almost always successful.
Luck was on the side of the "non-coms," and the colonel finally learned
to put a great deal of confidence in them. Bob Owens was particularly
fortunate in this respect, and that was the reason his superior sent for
him one morning after the officer of the day had reported that seven men
had deserted during the previous night, taking their arms and a supply
of ammunition with them.

CHAPTER IV.

A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING.

"Corporal," said the commandant, taking off his eye-glasses with a jerk,
as he always did when he was about to say something emphatic, "there are
the names of seven men who deserted last night. I want you to take
command of a squad and follow them up and arrest them."

"Very good, sir," replied Bob.

"I don't know which way they went, or anything about it," continued the
colonel. "That is something you will have to find out for yourself. I
_do_ know, however, that they went on foot, and that they are armed and
well supplied with ammunition. I want you to capture them at all
hazards--at all hazards, I say," repeated the colonel, bringing his open
hand down upon the table with a ringing slap. "If you come back without
them you need not offer any excuses, for I shall not listen to them.
Arrest anybody you catch outside the stockade wearing a United States
uniform, no matter who he is. There have been no passes granted this
morning, and no one except the guards and the officer of the day has any
business outside. That's all."

Bob saluted and hurried from the room. As he passed through the hall he
glanced at the list he held in his hand, and saw that it was headed by
the names of Bristow and Gus Robbins.

"This is about the easiest job I have had yet, and these fellows are
just as good as captured already," said he to himself. "I know right
where to look for them, and I wouldn't be in their shoes for all the
money the paymaster had in his safe the last time he was here. They are
booked for Leavenworth, sure.--May I go out, Willis?" he asked of the
sentry at the gate; "I am acting under orders."

"That's all right," was the reply; "the officer of the day told me to
pass you. You are going after those deserters, I suppose? Well, now,
look here," added the sentry, after looking all around to make sure that
there was no officer i