Two days later one of the working units of the fighting engineers was sent back to do some work on one of the trenches, part of which had caved in, blocking up the entrance to a dugout. Dave was in command of the men, and, as it happened, the dugout which had suffered was the one in which Gebauer and a number of other officers were quartered. Gebauer was in very ill humor, for his cot and some of his extra clothing had been covered with a shower of dirt and stones.
“That was a fine way to build a dugout,” he grumbled in Dave’s hearing. “If I couldn’t do better than that as an engineer, I’d resign,” and he looked directly at our hero.
“These trenches and dugouts were not made by our unit,” returned Dave. “Just the same, I consider they were built as well as circumstances permitted. These are only temporary quarters, as you know. And such an accident as this is liable to happen any time. We’ll cut down some saplings and limbs and shore this up, and fix some of the stonework, and then it will be as good as ever, or better.”
“Humph! maybe it will be,” grumbled Gebauer, and turned his back on the engineers.
This was the beginning of new trouble with not only Gebauer, but Nat Poole also. Both of these unworthies showed plainly that they did not like Dave or his chums at all, and they did everything they possibly could to annoy our hero. Of course, as a private, Nat was somewhat at a disadvantage, but Gebauer invariably tried to show his authority, especially when the higher officers were absent. He attempted to dictate to Dave, and this brought on a very animated discussion.
“See here, Lieutenant Gebauer,” said the young engineer finally, “you tend to your business and I’ll tend to mine. I know what my duty here is, and you have no authority to interfere with it.”
“Oh, you don’t have to ride a high horse, Porter,” growled Gebauer.
“I am not riding a high horse. If I were doing that, I would probably tell you a few things that you would hate to hear.”
“What about?” demanded the other hotly. They had walked down one of the trenches and were out of hearing of the others.
“Well, if you must know, about the way you made a fool of yourself in Crumville. I have had the particulars of how you acted, and I must say you played the part of anything but a gentleman.”