"Haven't you accepted it, Colonel?"
"I have no authority to do so. Your resignation will have to go to Washington through the usual military channels, and can be accepted only by the authority of the President."
"Oh, that will be all right," declared Algy promptly. "I'll get my friend, Benson-Bodge, to attend to that."
"I'm afraid he can't do it for you, young man. Mr. Ferrers, you will have to remain at this post, and perform all your duties, until the acceptance of your resignation comes in due form, and through the usual channels. And if you absent yourself from post again, without leave, I'll use the telegraph to make sure that your resignation is refused and that you are obliged to stand trial."
It took Mr. Ferrers until the next morning to recover his good spirits.
Then, immediately after the first drill—which he attended on time—Algy went over to the post telegraph station, where he picked up a blank and wrote this message to his father:
"You'll be glad to know that I'll be with you after a few days more. Have resigned from this beastly Army."
Sergeant Noll Terry was in charge of the office. He looked the message over gravely, then said:
"I am sorry, sir, but I am afraid that I cannot allow this message to go without the written approval of the post commander."
"What's the matter now?" asked Algy.