In another moment the big car stopped before headquarters.
"Come right on in, fellows, and introduce me, won't you?" urged Lieutenant Ferrers.
"I—I am afraid we'd better not," replied Hal, flushing.
"Oh, I see—you've a luncheon appointment, or something of the sort, eh? Well, never mind; glad to have met you. Expect to have many a good time with you later on. Good fellows, both of you, I'll wager."
"Come away from here, Noll," begged Hal, as soon as Mr. Ferrers had run up the steps and into the building. "I'm suffocating."
"I'm green," grinned Noll chokingly, "but I'd hate to have as much ahead of me to learn as that new officer has."
"Oh, perhaps he was joshing us," suggested Hal.
"Do you know what I think?"
"What?"
"I think," responded Noll, struggling hard to keep his gravity, "that Mr. Ferrers is kidding himself worse than any one else."