As soon as dismissed Hal and Noll made a swift spurt for barracks.
"Too bad, the first night, men," said Sergeant Brimmer quietly, meeting them just inside the door of the squad room.
Hal promptly accounted for both himself and his chum.
"Whew!" whistled the startled sergeant softly. "You caught Corporal Shrimp in the act of deserting? Men, your time to get square came around soon, didn't it?"
"We didn't do it to get square, Sergeant," replied Hal. "We did it as a matter of military duty."
"Well, go softly to your beds, men. I'll go with you, to see that you make 'em up according to rule."
As Sergeant Brimmer went back to his own iron cot he muttered to himself:
"Caught Shrimp, and turned him over to the guard! Those lads are going to make good soldiers. And it won't pay any comrade to make enemies of them needlessly."