"Very good, sir."
The officer remained to glance over the guard report, then went away.
"When does that mess call sound, Corporal?" asked Hal.
"Five minutes more. Bates, you'll take the recruits to D Company's mess."
Nor did either recruit feel sorry when he was ushered into the enlisted men's mess, near barracks.
"Attention!" roared one waggish soldier.
As by instinct the men in the room stood at attention.
"Two new young generals are honoring us this morning," grinned the wag.
"Throw him out!" growled a sergeant. "It's bad enough to be a rookie without having it rubbed in."
The first sergeant now gave the seating order, and the men fell in at table. The wag sat at Noll's left.