He was stocky, and had tremendous broad shoulders. At first sight he seemed short, but he had a way of standing, poised a little forward, his head thrown back and his chest rounded out, that made him appear to tower head and shoulders above the man who followed him out of the door—a slender, worried-looking man about the same height as Arnold.

The general took the slender man by the arm and turned him toward us. “You understand the situation,” he said in that strange penetrating voice. “We’re destitute: we’re paupers; but if there’s medicine to be had, I’ll get it for you. You’ll hear from me before noon tomorrow. I’ll come to the hospital myself!”

He gave Wilkinson a brusque nod. “I’m to see Dr. Senter tomorrow. Hospital. Eleven o’clock.”

He clapped the slight young man on the shoulder, then looked in at the room where the half dozen business men sat. “What’s all this?” he demanded, as if exasperated. “Captain Wilkinson, couldn’t these gentlemen have been attended to? You know I promised to inspect the waterfront before dark—promised the Commissioners.”

Captain Wilkinson stepped close to him to murmur a military secret. Arnold whirled to look at us; then nodded abruptly and turned back to the roomful of men. “Gentlemen,” he said, “tell your business to my aide, Captain Wilkinson! I can’t spare a moment from my duties till two o’clock tomorrow morning.” To Nason he said: “Come back here!” He hurried down the hallway, limping a little.

We followed him into a low-ceiled room and stood in a row before his desk. I had the impression of being surrounded by a sea of documents. On the desk were piles of letters and papers, each batch held down by a horseshoe. On other tables around the room, and in corners, were other stacks weighted with horseshoes. Fastened to each horseshoe was a label to tell what was beneath it, all neat as pie. The walls were bare, except for a hand-made map.

For a moment Arnold, standing beside the desk, seemed to forget us. He lifted one of the horseshoes, picked up a letter, examined it with a look of distaste; then replaced it carefully, dropped the horseshoe on it and threw back his head to stare at Nason.

“Well,” he said harshly, “you’ve been long enough! I trust the results have justified your little vacation!” He came to stand close before Cap Huff, who was restless beneath his scrutiny. “It’s Saved From Captivity!” Arnold said politely. “I can see you’ve not been starved on your trip, Saved From Captivity.”