“Captain Putnam wants me,” answered Tubbs, thinking the guard wanted to know why he was astir at that hour of the night.

“Captain Putnam wants you?”

“Yes.”

“It’s strange.  How did you get in?”

“In?  In where?”

“In this camp?”

“Oh, Ribble, are you crazy?”

“So you know me,” said Ribble.  “Well, I must say I don’t know you.”

“You certainly must be crazy.  I am William Philander Tubbs.”

“What!  Oh, then you—­” stammered Ribble, and then a light dawned on him.  “Who told you the captain wanted to see you?”

“Some cadet who just woke me up.”

“All right, go ahead then,” and Ribble grinned.  Behind Tubbs he now saw half a dozen cadets hovering in the semi-darkness, watching for sport.

On ran William Philander, to make up for lost time, and soon arrived at the flap of the tent occupied by Captain Putnam.

“Here I am, Captain Putnam!” he called out.  And then, as he got no reply, he called again.  By this time the captain was awake, and coming to the flap, he peered out.

“What do you want?” he asked, sharply. 
“You sent for me, sir,” stammered Tubbs.

“I sent for you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I have no recollection of so doing,” answered Captain Putman.  “Where are you from?”

“From?”

“Exactly.”

“Why, I am—­ah—­from this camp,” answered the puzzled Tubbs.

“Do you mean to tell me you belong here?” questioned the now astonished master of Putnam Hall.

“Of course, Captain Putnam.  Didn’t you send for me?  Somebody said you did,” continued William Philander.

“Sir, I don’t know you and never heard of you, so far as I can remember.  You must be mixed up.

“I mixed up?  I guess you are mixed up,” roared Tubbs, growing angry.  “If I don’t belong to this camp, where do I belong?”

“How should I know?  We have no negroes here, to the best of my knowledge.”

“Captain Putnam, what do you mean by calling me an—­ah—­negro?” fumed William Philander.

“Well, aren’t you one?  I can’t see very well.”

“No, sir; I am not a negro, and never was a negro,” answered Tubbs, getting more and more excited.  “I shall report this to my parents when I arrive home.”

“Will you in all goodness tell me your name?” queried Captain Putnam, beginning to realize that something was wrong.

“You know my name well enough, sir.”

“Perhaps I do, and perhaps I don’t.  Answer me, please.”

“My name is William Philander Tubbs.”

“Tubbs!  Is it possible!”

“Somebody came to my tent and said you wanted to see me.”

“Well, did you think it was necessary to black up to make a call on me?”

“Black up?” repeated William Philander.  “That is what I said?”

“Am I black, sir?”

“Yes, as black as coal.  Look at yourself in this glass,” and the captain held out a small looking glass and also a lantern.