“Stop!” he cried in commanding tones. “What does this mean?”
“He spilled a lot of hot coffee down my back!” growled Pug, but he had lost some of his belligerency since the advent of his captain.
“I didn’t mean to,” explained Bob. “It was an accident, some one jostled me.”
“Very well,” said Captain Trainer. “That is equivalent to an apology, Kennedy, and I direct you to accept it as such.”
“I’m sure I’m sorry,” said Bob. “I really didn’t mean to.”
“All right,” half growled Pug. “If you do it again, though, I’ll punch you worse than I did before!” and he glared at Bob.
The captain, seeing that he had averted hostilities for the time being, thought it best to withdraw. Enlisted men, especially at meals, like to be free from restraint, and an officer, no matter how much he is liked by his command, is a sort of damper at times.
Pug squirmed and twisted, trying to wipe some of the coffee stains from the back of his coat and Bob went on to his place to finish his meal.
“There’ll be trouble with that fellow before we are through with him,” said Jerry to his chums in a low voice, as they went out of the mess hall, for a little rest before drill was resumed.
“He’s made trouble enough already,” said Bob. “Though of course it is rather raw to have coffee spilled down your back. But I couldn’t help it.”