An hour later, found him tramping up and down the drill ground in the hot sun, with a rifle slung over his shoulders. He had not been there long before he saw Louis Flink approaching him, the latter having been sent to quarters on some mission or other.
Sam pretended not to see him until Flink halted before him with a stealthy glance to the rear to make sure that he was not observed.
“Hullo, red-head. Got what’s coming to you, didn’t you!” sneered Flink.
“That’s where you’ve got the best of me Blinkers. You haven’t got what is coming to you yet, so you have something to look forward to. Go on about your business before I put down this gun and thrash you. Go on!”
Sam made a move toward his tormentor, whereat Flink made haste to get out of the way. From a safe distance he taunted Sam until he saw a blue-coated figure approaching. Flink hurried on about his business, Sam taking up his steady march.
The figure, which proved to be that of a lieutenant whom Sam had not seen before, came on, but the boy did not appear to see him. He was too busy marching apparently, to heed even an officer. But Sam was suddenly called to his duty by a sharp command.
“Halt!”
Instinctively the lad stiffened.
“Attention! Young man, do you not understand what ‘attention’ means?”
“Yes, sir.”