"We know some of them," laughed Hal. "Noll and I have been calling there often."
"You have?" said Jud gleefully. "Say, ain't Sergeant Wright one of the finest men ever? I'll bet he's been a regular up-and-down hero himself, though he never tells us anything about his own big deeds."
"He wears the medal of Congress," replied Hal warmly. "A soldier who wears that doesn't need to brag."
"Say," remarked Jud thoughtfully, "I guess you two fellows are about as much struck with the soldiers as I am."
"I'll tell you and Tom something—if you can keep a secret," replied Hal Overton, after a side glance at his chum.
"Oh, we can keep secrets all right!" protested Tom Andrews.
"Well, then, fellows, Noll and I are going to New York to-morrow, to try to enlist in the Regular Army."
"You are?" gasped Jud, staring at Hal and Noll in round-eyed delight. "Oh, say, but you two ought to make dandy soldiers!"
"If the recruiting officer accepts us we'll do the best that's in us," smiled Hal.
"You'll be regular heroes!" predicted Jud, gazing at these two fortunate youngsters with eyes wide open with approval.