At the side of the squad, Hal leaped quickly from his horse, and plunging directly into the squad, threw his arms about one of the prisoners.

“Chester!” he cried.

And Chester it was.

The latter returned his friend’s embrace with gusto, and then freeing himself, fell into the bear hug of Uncle John.

The latter was sniffling with joy; but at last released, Chester caught sight of Colonel Anderson.

Again there was an affectionate greeting and then Hal heard a voice in his ear.

“And haven’t you anything to say to me, young man?”

Hal whirled about and caught sight of the smiling face of Anthony Stubbs, war correspondent of the New York Gazette.

“Stubbs!” he cried, and his delight was so evident that the little man flushed with pleasure.

Introductions followed all around now and then Colonel Anderson addressed the officer in charge of the squad.

“Are these men prisoners?” he asked.

“No, sir,” was the reply, “but General Ferrari instructed me to have them taken to a place of safety.”

“Then you can turn them over to me without question?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good!  Then I shall relieve you of further responsibility.”

The Italian saluted, ordered his men to “’Bout face” and marched off toward the front.

CHAPTER XX.

The advance.

The shrill, clear voice of a single bugle broke the stillness of the early morning.  There was a second of intense silence, and the call came again.  A second took it up, and a third, and many more, each less distinct than the first, for they were farther away.

Hal, Chester, Uncle John and Anthony Stubbs, three of them accustomed as they were to the life of the military camps, were upon their feet almost before the sound of the first bugle had died away, and strained their ears to catch a repetition.

They had spent the night in a large tent assigned them by Colonel Anderson, not far from his own quarters, and had retired completely exhausted as the result of the strenuous time they had gone through.  But they were all perfectly wide awake now and rushed from their tent with the sound of the second call.

“A call to arms!” exclaimed Hal.

“Probably means an advance,” said Chester quietly.

“I guess you are right,” returned his chum.  “And here we are, nothing but spectators at the best.”

“And that’s where you are lucky,” chimed in Stubbs.  “Now take me, I’ve got to get out among all this fighting and maybe I’ll be killed.  But I’ve got to do it.  You fellows can stay here where it is perfectly safe.”

“Well, I’d much rather be in your place, then,” said Chester.

“Same here,” declared Hal.