Bang! The revolver was discharged, but harmlessly into the air, as both rookies tackled the corporal and bore him to the ground.
"Help, here, Bill!" cried Shrimp, as he found himself going over backward.
The boatman leaned over to snatch up an oar. As he rose with it he saw Private Hal Overton rise with the corporal's revolver in his hand.
"Stay where you are, Corporal, and don't make any fuss," advised Hal grimly. "Your friend had better stay where he is if he doesn't want to know what it feels like to have a bullet going through him."
"Drop that gun, and let me up! Get out of my way," ordered Shrimp. "You're interfering with me in the discharge of my duty, and I'll put you both in a lot of trouble."
"Don't you try to get up," ordered Noll, who had thrown himself across the corporal and was holding him down.
"Sentry!" yelled Hal. "Sentry."
He should have called, "Corporal of the guard!" but he didn't know that.
Another shot at some distance was heard, followed by a lusty shout from a sentry of:
"Corporal of the guard, post number seven!"