A little over an hour later the band trooped into the village
where Lieutenant Winter's detachment was stationed. News of their
coming had been carried on ahead, and they received a royal
welcome from the men, who crowded about them and grasped their
hands and pounded their backs as they made their way to
headquarters.
There the reception was more than cordial, and there was heartfelt
relief in the clean cut face of the lieutenant as he had the Army
Boys tell their story.
"Fine work," he commented, when they had finished. "You men are a
credit to the regiment and the army. I'll see that this is brought
to the notice of the general in command. You can go now, that is,
all but Sheldon. I'll need one of you here to check up on the
stories of the prisoners."
The others saluted and retired, and while the prisoners were sent
for the lieutenant looked over the map with great interest, asking
Frank many questions about the speech he had heard in connection
with it.
The man with the red beard simply admitted that his name was
Spatler, and then shut up like an oyster. No persuasion or threats
could bring anything out of him, and he was finally sent back to
the guardhouse to be eventually dealt with by the authorities at
Coblenz.
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