The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-01
CHAPTER V

For the first time Carri1 changed color. A red flush swept to his fore head as he made unwilling reply:
 After sunrise, sir.''
 You were away all night!" es- capped the gray-haired officer in an involuntary cry of amazement.
 'Yes," Carri1 acknowledged with a difficult breath.
 Here was a pause The officers exchanged glances of grave and re- gretful significance. After a. moment, Colonel Zuniga drew himself to- gether:
 Ewhat did you do upon your re- turn to your post?"
 "I heard the sound of firing and knew the rebels hao passed" Carril responded. "I rode to join our forces, where. as you know, sir, I ar rived in time to take part in the final engagement.'
 "Yes, you carried yourself brave ly. as always" zuniga said heavily, and was silent.
 "If your purpose in taking Torres place was open and creditable to you both, why did he run away to hid ing?" demanded an officer who had not. yet spoken. a short, stout man with a 1isping voice.
 'T do not know, sir" Carrf11 answered. 'fI ordered him to return to camp and report my action to his commanding off1cer.' Then how did you expect to con- | ceal your failure to guard your post?''
 Carrils lark brows contracted. 'I did not expect to conceal 1t, sir,'' he corrected haughtfly. When I sent Torres away I intended to guard the post until relieved, as he should have done. Afterward, when I rejoined my regiment. I expected to be summoned for an examination o1 | my conduct. But that did not hap pen, and then I found Diego Torres was supposed to be dead. I had nc reason to think otherwise, so the mat | ter rested.'
 "You did not report your failure | in duty?"
 ''I am not given to self martyr dom,'' said Carrill. 1T did not | "Yet you have done so now" "Yes; because an innocent man was about to be punished in my place" 50, when you assumed tine guard | you did not plan to desert it?" | This time Carrill moved: | Captain, am not trial for neglect of duty. You are accusing me o1 treason,'' his retort flashed. "No; ] did not''
 There was a sympathetic move. | ment such as made the American catch his breath; no response to the | indignation. Colonel Zuniga picked up a pen, tapping on the table with il l as he spoke: Lieutenant Carril, the rebels at tackled us that night with an exact knowledge of our position and the | arrangement of our forces that has caused us considerable anxiety ever | since. They had communicated with Some one in our corps, or they had very clever spies. By your own ac l count you were away all that night Why did you leave the post you nae assumed charge of, and where wer, you from 10 o'clock until sunrise?''
 1T cannot answer, sir" | You will answer or be shot," stat ed Zuniga. ''or if you refuse to Sd, where you spent that night, we mus believe you spent Tt with our enc
 mies.''
 ''No!" Carril cried fferce1y.
 Zuniga leaned across the table
 meeting him eye to eye:
 "You must say where you were. o
 leave us to that conclusi on.''
 White with passion, Carril took
 step forward:
 "I am not guilty, Colonel zuniga
 Twill you tell us where you sper that night ?"
 ''I cannot. It was spent honors J bly,
 "Where?" CT cannot answer
 "You will not?" "I cannot" } ''Why?" "I cannot answer" You understand what this mean
 to you?''
 Carril strengthened himself hl ! eyes fell to the glittering sword h should never buckle on aga1n, an there rested: 'Yes," he said quietly. II Colonel Zuniga again sank back i ] his chair, glancing around the tabl r 1 Billy Graeme gripped the edge of hi l bench. He thought he knew w71s