"Some of you men have been more noisy and rough than is warranted by a proper sense of freedom in barracks," Hal said quietly but firmly. "Fun may go on, but all real disorder will cease at once, and not be resumed. That is all."
Hal turned to resume his seat at the table. But from three or four men in the center of the room, as they turned away, came a muffled groan.
That sign of insubordination brought the young sergeant to his feet once more in an instant. His under lip trembled slightly, but he strode in among the men.
"Men, I've something to say to you," announced the new sergeant coolly. "I intend to preserve discipline in this squad room, though I don't expect to do it like a martinet. Some of you groaned, just now, when my back was turned. Soldiers of the regular Army are men of courage. No real man fights behind another man's back. Has any man here anything that he wishes to say to my face?"
It was a tense moment. Three or four of the men looked as though tempted to "say a lot."
Sergeant Hal, his hands tightly gripped, stood facing them, waiting.
Nearly a score of feet away Corporal Hyman stood negligently by. There was nothing aggressive in his manner, but he was ready to go to the support of his sergeant.
"Has any man here anything that he wishes to say to me?" Hal repeated.
Still silence was preserved.
"Then let us have no more child's play by those who are old enough to be men twenty-four hours in a day," warned Overton crisply.