Down the street he espied Greg, also going toward headquarters, and hurried after him.

On the other side of the street was Captain Cartwright, who soon crossed over to join them.
In silence, the three captains made their way along the street until they reached regimental headquarters.

It was a low one-story pine shed, with the colonel's office at one end, the adjutant's office next to it, and beyond that the rooms occupied by the sergeant major and his clerical force, and, last of all, the chaplain's office.
None of the three captains was exactly at ease as they entered the adjutant's office and reported.
"The commanding officer will see you at once," said the adjutant.
"Pass through into his office." Colonel Cleaves, glancing up from his desk, gravely returned the salutes of his three captains.
"Be good enough to close the door into the adjutant's office, Captain Holmes," directed the K.O.

"Now, gentlemen, I will hear whatever explanation you have to offer of a very remarkable scene that I came upon this noon." All three waited, to see if one of the others wished to speak first.

After waiting a moment or two Colonel Cleaves asked: "Captain Prescott, it was you who struck the knock-down blow, was it not ?" "Yes, sir," Dick answered promptly, "though it followed a parry, and was more of a thrust than a blow." "You agree to that, Captain Cartwright ?" quizzed the K.O.
"Essentially so, sir." "There had been a quarrel, had there not ?" "I made a reply to a remark by Captain Cartwright, sir," Greg supplied, "which, he felt justified in construing as offensive, though I did not so intend it.