WiththemstoodMcCuaig。Hisblanketrollcontaininghisgrub，withfrying—panandtea—pailattached，layathisfeet；hisriflebesideit。
　　Foramomentortwohestoodlookingbackupthestreambywhich，lastnight，hehadcome。Thenhebegantyinghispaddlestothecanoethwartsinpreparationforpackingitacrosstheportage。
　　Ashewastyingonthesecondpaddle，Duff’seyefellonhim。
　　"What’sup，McCuaig？"hesaid。"Aren’tyougoinguptothePost？"
　　"No，IguessIain’tgoin’upnomore，"repliedMcCuaigslowly。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？Youaren’tgoingbackhome？"
　　"No。Myoldshackwilldowithoutmeforawhile，Iguess。——Say，"
　　hecontinued，facingarounduponDuffandlookinghimsquarelyintheface，"thisyoungchapsays"——puttinghishanduponBarry’sshoulder——"BritainisgoingtohaveahellofatimelickingGermanybackintoherownorbut。ThempaperssaidlastnightthatCanadawasgoinginstrong。Doyouthinkshecoulduseafellowlikeme？"
　　Asilencefelluponthegroupofmen。
　　"What！Doyoumeanit，McCuaig？"saidDuffatlength。
　　Themanturnedhisthin，eaglefacetowardthespeaker，alightinhiseyes。
　　"Why，ain’tyougoin’？Ain’teveryonegoin’thatcan？Ifafellowstoodononesidewhilehiscountrywasfightin’，wherewouldhelivewhenit’sallover？HereadoutofthepapersthatthemGermanswereshootin’womenandchildren。So——"hisfacebegantowork，"amIgoin’tostandbyandasksomeoneelsetomake’emquit？No，byGod！"
　　Themenstoodwatchinghisface，curiouslytwistedandquivering。
　　ThenwithoutawordDuffseizedhispack，andswungintothetrail，everymanfollowinghiminhisorder。Withoutpausing，exceptforabriefhalfhouratnoon，andanotherlaterinthedayforeating，theypressedthetrail，runningwhatrapidstheycouldandportagingtheothers，untilintheearlyeveningtheysaw，faraway，adirtyblurontheskyline。
　　"Hurrah！"yelledFielding。"Goodoldfirebus，waitingforus。"
　　"Somebodyrunaheadandholdher，"saidDuff。
　　Barryflunghispackdownandstartedaway。
　　"Comebackhere，Barry，"criedKnight。"You’renotfit。You’reallin。"
　　"That’sright，too，"saidMcCuaig。"IguessI’llgo。"
　　Andoffhesetwiththelong，shuffling，tirelesstrotwithwhich，forahundredyears，the"runnersofthewoods"havepackedtheirloadsandtrackedtheirgameinthewildsofnorthwesternCanada。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　BARRICADESANDBAYONETS
　　ThecityofEdmontonwasinanuproar，itsstreetsthrongedwithexcitedmen，ranchersandcowboysfromtheranches，lumberjacksfromthefoothillcamps，menfromthemines，trapperswithlean，hardfaces，inweirdgarb，fromthenorth。
　　Thenewsfromthefrontwasominous。Belgiumwasasmokingwaste。
　　Herskieswereblackwiththeburningofhertowns，villagesandhomesteads，hersoilredwiththebloodofheroldmen，herwomenandchildren。TheFrencharmies，drivenbackinroutfromtheBelgianfrontier，werebeingpoundedtodeathbytheGermanhordes。
　　FortresseshithertoconsideredimpregnableweretumblinglikeninepinsbeforetheterriblesmashingofAustrianandGermansixteen—inchguns。AlreadyvonKluckwithhisfourhundredthousandofconqueringwarriorswasatthegatesofParis。
　　Mostominousofall，theBritisharmy，thatgallant，littlesacrificialarmy，ofascantseventy—fivethousandmen，holdinglikeabulldogtotheflankofvonBulow’smightyarmy，fiftytimesasstrong，threatenedbyvonKluckontheleftflankandbyvonHousenontheright，wasslowingdowntheGermanadvance，butwasitselfbeingslowlygroundintothebloodydustofthenorthernandeasternroadsofNorthernandEasternFrance。
　　BlackdaysthesewereforthemenofBritishblood。Wastheworldtoseesomethingnewinwar？WereGermanstoovercomemenoftheraceofNelson，andWellingtonandColinCampbell？
　　Athome，hundredsofthousandswerebatteringattherecruitingoffices。IntheDominionsoftheEmpireoverseasitwasthesame。
　　InCanadaahundredthousandmenweredemandingaplaceinthefirstCanadiancontingentofthirty—fivethousand，nowalmostreadytosail。GeneralSamatOttawawasbeingsnowedunderbyentreating，insistent，cajoling，threateningtelegrams。AlreadynorthernAlbertahadsenttwothousandmen。TherumourinEdmontonranthattherewereonlyafewplaceslefttobefilledinthenorthAlbertaquota。Forthesefewplaceshundredsofmenwerefightinginthestreets。
　　Alightingfromtheirtrain，Duffandhismenstoodamazed，aghast，gazinguponthescenebeforethem。Duffclimbedawagonwheelandsurveyedthecrowdpackingthestreetinfrontofthebulletinboards。
　　"Nouse，thisway，boys。We’llhavetogoaround。Comeon。"
　　Theywenton。Upsidestreetsandlanes，throughbackyardsandshopstheywentuntilatlengththeyemergedwithinahundredyardsoftherecruitingoffice。
　　Duffcalledhismenabouthim。
　　"Boys，we’llhavetobluffthem，"hesaid。"You’reapartyofrecruitsthatCol。Kavanaghexpects。You’vebeensentfor。I’mbringingyouinunderorders。Lookasmuchlikesoldiersasyoucan，andboreinlikehell。Comeon！"
　　Theybegantobore。Atoncetherewasanuproar，punctuatedwithvociferousandvariedprofanity。
　　Duffprovedhimselfaneffectiveleader。
　　"Here，letmepass，"heshoutedintothebacksofmen’sheads。
　　"I’mondutyhere。ImustgetthroughtoColonelKavanagh。Keepupthere，men；keepyourline！Standback，please！Makeway！"
　　Hishugebulk，distortedfaceandhisloudandauthoritativevoicestartledmenintotemporarysubmission，andbeforetheycouldrecoverthemselvesheandhislittlecompanyofhard—boringmenwerethrough。
　　Twenty—fiveyardsfromtherecruitingofficeasiderushofthecrowdcaughtthem。
　　"They’vesmashedthebarricades，"aboyfromatelegraphpolecalledout。
　　Duffandhismenfoughttoholdtheirplaces，buttheybecameconsciousofasteadypressurebackwards。
　　"What’sdoingnow，boy？"shoutedDufftotheurchinclingingtothetelegraphpole。
　　"Thefusileers——theyarestickingtheirbayonetsintothem。"
　　Beforethelineofbayonetsthecrowdretreatedslowly，butDuffandhiscompanyheldtheirground，allowingthecrowdtoebbpastthem，untiltheyfoundthemselvesagainstthelineofbayonets。
　　"Letmethroughhere，sergeant，withmyparty，"saidDuff。"I’munderordersofColonelKavanagh。"
　　Thesergeant，anoldBritisharmyman，lookedthemover。
　　"Haveyouanorder，sir——awrittenorder，Imean？"
　　"No，"saidDuff。"Ihaven’t，butthecolonelexpectsus。Heiswaitingformenow。"
　　"Sorry，sir，"repliedthesergeant，"myordersaretoletnoonethroughwithoutawrittenpass。"
　　Duffargued，stormed，threatened，swore；buttonopurpose。TheN。C。O。knewhisjob。
　　"Sendanotein，"suggestedBarryinDuff’sear。
　　"Goodidea，"repliedDuff，andwrotehurriedly。
　　"Here，takethisthroughtoyourcolonel，"hesaid，passingthenotetothesergeant。
　　AlmostimmediatelyColonelKavanaghcameoutandgreetedDuffwarmly。
　　"Whereinthiswidecreationhaveyoubeen，Duff？"heexclaimed。
　　"I’vewantedyouterribly。"
　　"HereIamnow，then，"answeredDuff。"Sixofus。We’regoingwithyou。"
　　"Itcan’tbedone，"saidthecolonel。"Ihaveonlytwentyplacesleft；everyonepromisedtentimesover。"
　　"Thatmakesiteasy，Kavanagh。Youcangivesixofthemtous。"
　　"Duff，itsimplycan’tbedone。YouknowI’dgiveittoyouifI
　　could。I’vewiresfromOttawabackingupahundredapplicants，actuallyorderingmetoputthemon。No！It’snouse，"continuedthecolonel，holdinguphishand。"Lookhere，I’llgiveyouapointer。Wehavegotwordto—daythatthere’stobeasecondcontingent。NeilFraserisoutthereinyourdistrict，Wapiti，raisingacompanyoftwohundredandfiftymen。Wehavestrippedthatcountrybarealready，sohe’supagainstit。HewantsWapitimen，hesays。Theyarenobetterthananyother，buthethinkstheyare。Yougetoutthereto—night，Duff，andgetinonthatthing。Youwillgetacommission，too。Nowhike！Hike！Go！
　　HonesttoGod，Duff，Iwantyouwithmybattalion，andifIcanworkitafterwards，I’llgetyouexchanged，butyouronlychancenowisWapiti。Go，forGod’ssake，goquick！"
　　"Whatdoyousay，boys？"askedDuff，wheelinguponhismen。
　　"Isay，go！"saidKnight。
　　Inthisdecisiontheyallagreed。
　　"Goitis，"saidDuff。"Rightaboutturn。Goodluck，Kavanagh，damnyou。Iseeyouhavegotagoodsergeantthere。"
　　"Who？McDowell？Nonebetter。Youcouldn’tbeathim，eh？"saidthecolonelwithagrin。
　　Thesergeantstoodatattention，withawoodenface。
　　"He’sthekindofmantheywantinthefrontlines，"saidDuff。
　　"Thedevilhimselfcouldn’tbreakthroughwhereheis。"
　　"That’swhyIhavehim。Goodluck。Good—bye！"
　　Throughoutthenighttheymarched，nowandthenreceivingaliftfromaranchwagon，andinthegreyofthemorning，weary，hungry，butresoluteforaplaceintheWapiticompany，theymadethevillage。
　　Earlyasitwas，Barryfoundhisfatherastir，withbreakfastinreadiness。
　　"Hello，boy！"criedhisfatherrunningtohimwithoutstretchedhands。
　　"Hello，dad！"answeredBarry。Hisfatherthrewasearchingglanceoverhisson’sfaceasheshookhishandwarmly。
　　"Notaword，Barry，untilyoueat。Notaword。Gogetreadyforyourbath。I’llhaveitforyouinaminute。No，notoneword。
　　Quick。March。Thatistheonlywordthesedays。AsyoueatI’llgiveyouthenews。"
　　Resolutelyherefusedtotalkuntilhesawhissonbeginuponhisbreakfast。Thenhepouredforthastreamofnews。Thewholecountrywasaflamewithwarenthusiasm。Albertahadofferedhalfamillionbushelsofoatsfortheimperialarmy，andathousandhorsesormore。TheCalgarydistricthadrecruitedtwothousandmen，theEdmontondistrictasmanymore。AlloverCanada，fromVancouvertoHalifax，itwasthesame。
　　FromtheWapitidistricttwenty—sixranchers，furnishingtheirownhorses，hadalreadygone。EwenInneswasinEdmonton。HisbrotherMalcolmwasinuniform，too，andhisyoungbrotherJimwaskeentoenlist。NeilFraserwasbusyraisingacompanyofWapitimen。
　　YoungPicklesandMcCannhadjoinedupasbuglers。
　　Andsothestreamflowed，Barrylisteningwithgravefacebutmakingnoresponse。
　　"AndI’mgladyou’reback，myboy。I’mgladyou’reback，"saidhisfather，clappinghimontheshoulder。
　　Therestofthemealwaseateninsilence。Theywerehavingeachhisownthoughts，andforthefirsttimeintheirlifetogether，theykepttheirthoughtstothemselves。
　　"You’regoingtoyouroffice，Dad，"saidBarry，whentheyhadclearedaway，andsetthehouseinorder。
　　"No，theofficeisclosed，andwillbeforsometime，Iimagine。
　　I’mbusywithNeilFraser。I’mactingpaymaster，quartermaster，recruitingsergeant，andhalfadozenotherthings。"
　　"I’llgodownwithyou，"saidBarry，ashisfatherrosetogo。
　　Hisfathercamebacktohim，puthishandsonhisshoulders，andsaid：
　　"Barry，Iwantyoutogotobed。"
　　"Nonsense，dad。I’mallright。I’mgoingdowntownwithyou。"
　　"Barry，"saidhisfather，"wehavehardtimesbeforeus，andyoumustbefit。Iaskyoutogotobedandsleeptherethisforenoon。
　　You’rehalfasleepnow。Thisafternoonweshallfaceuptoourjob。"
　　Hisfather’svoicewasquietlyauthoritativeandBarryyielded。
　　"Allright，dad。I’lldoasyousay，andthisafternoon——well，we’llsee。"
　　Atthenoondaymealtheywereconsciousofamutualrestraint。Forthefirsttimeintheirlivestheywerenotopeningtoeachothertheirinnermostsouls。Theexperiencewasasdistressingasitwasunusual。Thefather，asifindreadofsilence，wasobviouslyexertinghimselftokeepastreamoftalkflowing。Barrywaslisteningwithafaceverygraveandveryunlikethebrightandbuoyantfaceheusuallycarried。Theyavoidedeachother’seyes，andpaidlittleheedtotheirfood。
　　AtlengthBarrypushedbackhischair。
　　"Willyouexcuseme，dad，"hesaid。"IthinkIshallstepoutamomentintothegarden。"
　　"Do，Barry，"saidhisfather，inobviousrelief。"Youarefaggedout，myboy。"
　　"Thanks，dad。Iamabitplayedout。"
　　"Andtakeiteasythisafternoon，Barry。To—nightyouwilltellmeaboutyourtrip，and——and——we’llhaveatalk。"
　　"Goodolddad！"saidBarry。"Youdounderstandachap。Seeyoulater，then，"hecalledbackashepassedthroughthedoor。
　　Hisfathersatgazingbeforehimforsomemomentswithadeepshadowonhisface。
　　"Thereissomethingwrongwiththatboy，"hesaidtohimself。"I
　　wishIknewwhatitwas。"
　　Hesethishouseinorder，movingheavilyasifasuddenweightofyearshadfallenuponhisshoulders，andtookhiswayslowlydownthestreet。
　　"Iwonderwhatitis，"hemused，refusingtogiveformtoahorriblethoughtthathoveredlikeaspectreaboutthewindowsofhissoul。
　　Thefirstglanceathisson’sfaceatthetimeoftheeveningmealmadehisheartsingwithinhim。
　　"He’sallrightagain！He’sallright！"hesaidtohimselfjubilantly。
　　"Hello，dad，"criedBarry，ashisfatherenteredtheroom。
　　"Supper’sjustready。Howdoyoufeel，eh？"
　　"Better，myboy——firstrate，Imean。I’mproperlyhungry。You’rerested，Icansee。"
　　"I’mallright，dad！I’mallright！"criedBarry，inhisoldcheeryway。"Dad，Iwanttoapologisetoyou。Iwasn’tmyselfto—
　　day，butnowI’mallrightagain。Dad，I’vejoinedup。I’masoldiernow，"hesaidwithasmileonhisface，butwithanxiouseyesturnedonhisfather。
　　"Joinedup！"echoedhisfather。"Barry，youhaveenlisted！ThankGod，myboy。Ifeared——Ithought——No，damnedifIdid！"headded，withsuchanunusualburstofpassionthatBarrycouldonlygazeathimwithastonishment。
　　"Forgiveme，myboy，"hesaid，comingforwardwithoutstretchedhand。"ForamomentIconfessIthought——"Againhepaused，apparentlyunabletocontinue。
　　"Youthought，dad，"criedBarry，"and——forgiveme，dad——Ithoughttoo。Ioughttohaveknownyoubetter。"
　　"AndI，you，myson。"
　　Theyshookhandswitheachotherinanecstasyofjubilation。
　　"MyGod，I’mgladthat’sthrough，"saidtheolderman。"Wewerebothfools，Barry，butthankGodthathorrorispast。Nowtellmeallabouteverything——yourtrip，yourplans。Let’shaveagoodtalkaswealwaysdo。"
　　"Comeonthen，dad，"criedBarry。"Let’shaveaneatfirst。ByJove，Ifeelathousandyearsyounger。IgototheM。O。to—morrowforanexamination。"
　　"Heisquiteunusuallysevereinhisinterpretationoftheregulations，Iunderstand，"saidhisfather。"Heisturningmendownrightandleft。Heknows，ofcourse，thatthereareplentytochoosefrom。Butthereisnofearofyourfitness，Barry。"
　　"Notmuch，"saidBarry，withagaylaugh。
　　Neverhadtheyspentahappiereveningtogether。True，thespectreofwarwouldthrustitselfuponthem，buttheyfaceditasmen——
　　withafullappreciationofitssolemnreality，butwithoutfear，andwithaquietdeterminationtomakewhateversacrificemightbedemandedofthem。Theperfectunderstandingthathadalwaysmarkedtheirintercoursewitheachotherwasrestored。Theintolerableburdenofmutualuncertaintyinregardtoeachother’sattitudetowardthewarwaslifted。Allshadowsthatlaybetweenthemweregone。Nothingelsereallymattered。
　　Thedayfollowing，Barryreceivedarudeshock。TheM。O。，afteranexamination，tohisamazementanddismay，pronouncedhimphysicallyunfitforservice。
　　"Andwhy，pray？"criedhisfatherindignantly，whenBarryannouncedtheastoundingreport。"Isthemanafool？Iunderstoodthathewasstrict。Butyou！unfit！Itispreposterous。Unfit！how？"
　　"Heartmurmur，"saidBarry。"Setsitdowntoasthma。YourememberItoldyouIhadarottenattackaftermyexperiencelastweekintheriver。HesuggestedthatIapplyforapositioninanambulancecorps，andheisgivingmealettertoColonelSidleighatEdmonton。Iamgoingto—morrowtoEdmontontoseeSidleigh，andbesidesIhavesomechurchbusinesstoattendto。Imustcalluponmysuperintendent。YourememberImadeanapplicationtohimforanothermissionfield。"
　　HefoundColonelSidleighcourteouslywillingtoaccepthisapplication，theanswertowhich，hewasinformed，hemightexpectinafortnight；andsowentwithacomparativelylighthearttohisinterviewwithhissuperintendent。
　　Theinterview，however，turnedoutnotentirelyashehadexpected。
　　Hewentwithanideaofsurrenderinghisappointment。Hissuperintendentmadehimanofferofanotherandgreater。
　　"Sotheyturnedyoudown，"saidthesuperintendent。"Well，I
　　consideritmostprovidential。Youhaveappliedforapositionontheambulancecorps。Asfineasisthatservice，andassplendidasareitspossibilities，Iofferyousomethingmuchfiner，andI
　　willevensaymuchmoreimportanttoourarmyandtoourcause。WeareinneedofmenfortheChaplainService，andforthisservicewedemandthepickedmenofourchurch。Theappointmentsthathavebeenmadealreadyaresomeofthemmostunsuitable，some，Iregrettosay，scandalous。Letmetellyou，sir，ofanexperienceinWinnipegonlylastweek。Itwas，myfortunetofallinwiththecommandingofficerofaSaskatchewanunit。Ifoundhiminarageagainstthechurchandallitsofficials。Hischaplainhadbecomesohilariousatthemessthathewasquiteunabletocarryon。"
　　"Hilarious？"inquiredBarry。
　　"Hilarious，sir。Yes，plaindrunk。Thinkofit。Thinkofthecrime！theshameofit！Amanchargedwiththeresponsibilityofthesoulsofthesemengoingtowar——possiblytotheirdeath——
　　drunk，intheirpresence！AmanstandingforGodandthegreateternalverities，incapacitatedbeforethem！ItookthematterupwithOttawa，andIhavethissatisfactionatleast，thatIbelievethatnosuchappointmentwilleverbemadeagain。Thatchaplain，I
　　maysaytoo，hasbeendismissed。Ihavehere，sir，amissionfieldsuitabletoyourabilityandexperience。Ishallnotofferittoyou。IamofferingyouthepositionofchaplaininoneofourAlbertabattalions。"
　　Barrystoodbeforehim，dumbwithdismay。
　　"Ofcourse，Iwanttogotothewar，"hesaidatlength，"butIamsure，sir，Iamnotthemanforthepositionyouofferme。"
　　"Sir，"saidthesuperintendent，"Ihavetakenthelibertyofsendinginyourname。Timewasanelement。Appointmentswerebeingrapidlymade，andIwasextremelyanxiousthatyoushouldgowiththisbattalion。Iconfesstoaselfishinterest。Myownboy，Duncan，hasenlistedinthatunit，andmanyofourfinestyoungmenwithhim。Iassumedtheresponsibilityofaskingforyourappointment。Imusturgeyousolemnlytoconsiderthematterbeforeyoudecline。"
　　EloquentlyBarrypleadedhisunfitness，instancinghisfailureasapreacherinhislastfield。
　　"Iamnotapreacher，"heprotested。"Iamnota’mixer。’Theyallsayso。Ishallbeimpossibleasachaplain。"
　　"Youngman，"saidthesuperintendent，anoteofsternnessinhisvoice，"youknownotwhattransformationsincharacterthiswarwillwork。WouldIweretwentyyearsyounger，"headdedpassionately，"twentyyearssounder。ThinkoftheopportunitytostandforGodamongyourmen，topointthemthewayofduty，andfitthemforit，tobringthemcomfort，whentheyneedcomfortsorely，tobringthempeace，whentheymostneedpeace。"
　　Barrycameawayfromtheinterviewmoredisturbedthanhehadeverbeeninhislife。Afterhehadreturnedtohishotel，amessagefromhissuperintendentrecalledhim。
　　"Ihaveabitofworktodo，"hesaid，"inwhichIneedyourhelp。
　　Iwishyoutojoinmeinavisitationofsomeofthemilitarycampsinthisdistrict。Westartthisevening。"
　　Therewasnothingforitbuttoobeyhissuperintendent’sorders。
　　Thetwoweeks’experiencewithhischiefgaveBarryanewviewandanewestimateofthechaplain’swork。Ashecameintoclosertouchwithcamplifeanditsconditions，hebegantoseehowgreatwasthesoldier’sneedofsuchmoralandspiritualsupportasachaplainmightbeabletorender。Hewasexposedtosubtleandpowerfultemptations。Hewasdeprivedofthewontedrestraintsimposedbyconvention，byenvironment，byfamilyties。Thereactionsfromtheexhaustionofphysicaltraining，fromthemonotonousroutineofmilitarydiscipline，fromlonelinessandhomesicknessweresuchastocallforthatwarm，sympathetic，brotherlyaid，andfortheupliftingspiritualinspirationthatitisachaplain’sprivilegetooffer。Butinproportionastheservicetookonanoblerandloftieraspect，wasBarryconscioustoacorrespondingdegreeofhisownunfitnessforthework。
　　Whenhereturnedtothecity，hefoundnodefiniteinformationawaitinghiminregardtoaplaceintheambulancecorps。Hereturnedhomeinanunhappyanduncertainframeofmind。
　　Butunderthedriveofwar，eventsweremovingrapidlyinBarry’slife。Hearrivedlateintheafternoon，andproceedingtothemilitaryH。Q。，hefoundneitherhisfathernorCaptainNeilFraserintheoffice。
　　"Goneoutfortheafternoon，sir，"wasthewordfromtheorderlyincharge。
　　Wanderingaboutthevillage，hesawinafieldatitsoutskirts，asquadofrecruitsdoingmilitaryevolutionsandphysicaldrill。Ashedrewnearhewasarrestedbytheshort，snappytonesoftheN。C。O。incharge。
　　"Thatchapknowshisjob，"hesaidtohimself，"andlookslikehisjob，too，"headded，ashiseyesrestedupontheneat，upright，soldier—likefigure。
　　CaptainNeilhefoundobservingthedrillfromadistance。
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"hecalledouttoBarry，asthelattercamewithinhailingdistance。"Whatdoyouthinkofmysergeant？"
　　"Fine，"repliedBarry。"Wheredidyougethim？"
　　"What？Lookathim！"
　　"Iam。Prettynattysergeanthemakes，too。"
　　"Let’sgooutthere，andI’llintroducehim。"
　　Astheycrossedtheparadeground，thesergeantdroppedhismilitarytoneandproceededtoexplaininhisordinaryvoicesomedetailsinconnectionwiththedrill。Barry，catchingthesoundofhisvoice，stoppedshort。
　　"Youdon’tmeanit，CaptainNeil！Notdad，isit？"
　　"Nobodyelse，"saidCaptainNeil。"Waitaminute。Waitandlet’swatchhimathiswork。"
　　Forsometimetheystoodobservingtheworkofthenewsergeant。
　　Barrywasfilledwithamazementanddelight。
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofhim？"inquiredCaptainNeil。
　　ButBarrymadenoreply。
　　"Mycompanysergeantmajorgotdrunk，"continuedCaptainNeil。"I
　　hadnoonetotakethedrill。Iaskedyourfathertotakeit。Henearlysweptusoffourfeet。Inconsequence，therehestands，mycompanysergeantmajor，andletmetellyou，hewillbetheregimentalsergeantmajorbeforemanyweekshavepassed，orI’maGerman。"
　　"Buthisage，"inquiredBarry，stillinamazeofastonishment。
　　"Oh，that’sallright。Youdon’twantthemtooyoung。Iassuredtheauthoritiesthathewasofpropermilitaryage，tellingthem，atthesametime，thatImusthavehim。He’sawonder，andthemenjustadorehim。"
　　"Idon’twonderatthat，"saidBarry。
　　Togethertheymovedovertothesquad。Thesergeant，observinghisofficer，calledhismensmartlytoattention，andgreetedthecaptainwithaverysnappysalute。