Bob Hunt in Canada | Page 7

it out.
"Private Watson, kindly show the prisoner the order relating to
cameras," said the Commandant.
Private Watson then came forward and, taking the card, he showed Bill
the paragraph stating that all cameras must be left at the gate.
"I am very sorry, sir, that I was so careless," said Bill. "I did not think
that anything I could do would get me into trouble here and I didn't
think it necessary to read the card. There were so many things to see
that I just put it in my pocket."
"That is not much of an excuse," said the Commandant in a stern voice.

"You must remember that you are here in a military fortress and that
we can't be too strict in some matters."
"I recognize that now, but I assure you that I had no motive whatever in
taking the picture except to get a unique photo," said Bill humbly.
The Commandant for the next ten minutes put the three boys through a
regular third degree examination. They told him who they were, where
they came from, who their parents were, what business they were in,
and a hundred other questions.
"Boys," said the Commandant, "I'm afraid that I'll have to detain you
until Captain Abercrombie here can verify some of your statements."
Then, turning to the orderly, he said,
"Captain Abercrombie, call up the Chateau and see if these three are
registered there as they state. Send Private Watson out to the West Gate
to get the driver who took them to the Plains of Abraham this afternoon.
Call up the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company's office and see
if passage is booked for to-morrow for three in the name of Hunt. Look
through their luggage at the Chateau and report as soon as possible."
"Very well, your Excellency," said the Captain, and saluting, he
vanished.
"Private Watson," said the Commandant.
"At your orders, sir," said the private, clicking his heels as he saluted.
"Take these young gentlemen to the guard-house and remain with them
until I send Captain Abercrombie to you with orders for their release."
"Very well, your Excellency," said Private Watson, as he led the way
out of the room.
The boys followed him through the big room, out into the air and along
a path until they came to a smaller building with iron bars at the
windows. Private Watson had to stop and tell the nature of the errand to

the soldier at the door, who finally saluted and let them in. They found
themselves in a rather large antechamber. After a talk with the Captain
in charge, the boys were led to a bright airy room on the second floor.
"I've brought you here, boys," said Private Watson, "because you can
look out of the windows and find something to interest yourselves with.
I can tell by the way in which Major-General Norris spoke that he
thinks you are all right, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. When
you get tired of seeing the scenery, take a look at those old guns in the
cases over there."
Thereupon, their escort left them and could be seen pacing in front of
the door.
"You're a fine specimen," said Pud, as soon as the door was closed.
"Ah, what's the matter?" said Bill. "I suppose you think that I brought
the camera along just to get us into trouble."
"You didn't seem to think it was serious a little while ago," replied Pud.
"Then, you said it was a lark. This is a fine lark. If we're kept here,
we'll miss our boat to-morrow and that will make us miss the other boat
to Escoumains and then Mr. Waterman won't know where we are and it
will ball everything up."
"Dry up, you old tear-bag," said Bob. "This isn't very serious. I can see
why it's only right that they should be very careful around a fortress
and any trouble we're in is our own fault, but Captain Abercrombie will
find everything straight and we'll be out of here just in time to have a
good dinner and to talk over our experience with gusto."
"I hope so, I hope so," said Pud, in such a dejected tone that even Bill
had to laugh at him.
"Gee, I'm sorry, Bob, to get you two into all this trouble," said Bill to
Bob.
"Don't worry. Things will be all right."

The boys then busied themselves watching the boats ply to and fro on
the broad St. Lawrence. The people seemed like small flies far down on
the esplanade near the Chateau Frontenac, while further down on the
wharves, they could see a jumbled mass of people, carriages, carts,
wagons, etc., all indicating how busy things were in Quebec. They
found plenty to