It was an excellent talk all the way through. Both boys listened respectfully and appreciatively. It struck them that Lieutenant Shackleton was giving them a large amount of his time. They learned, later, that a competent officer is always willing and anxious to talk with his men upon questions of discipline, duty and efficiency. It is one of the things that the officer is expected and paid to do.
By the time they came out Tip was just returning from the surgeon's examination.
"You freshies needn't think ye're the only ones that passed," growled Tip in a low voice, as he passed.
Neither chum paid any heed to Branders. Somehow, as long as he kept his hands at his sides, Branders didn't seem worth noticing.
"Make it?" asked the sergeant at the street door.
"Yes; we sign to-morrow, if our references are all right," Hal nodded happily.
With a sudden recollection that soldiers must hold themselves erect, Hal and Noll braced their shoulders until they thought they looked and carried themselves very much as the sergeant did. They kept this pose until they had turned the corner into Broadway.
"Whoop!" exploded the usually quiet Noll Terry unexpectedly.
"What's wrong, old fellow?" asked Hal quickly.
"Nothing! Everything's right, and we're soldiers at last!" cried Noll, his eyes shining.