But no one was in a mood to stop it. Higher and higher shot the body of the unpopular corporal, until he was going up ten feet or more at nearly every toss.
It is a most ludicrous punishment to look at, but the victim of this strenuous prank feels that it is more than ridicule. He is always certain that an outrage is being carried on against him.
"Sto-o-op it!" gasped Raynes weakly.
Under the merciless tossing and consequent jolting nearly all the breath had left his body.
"Give him a few more tastes," advised three or four of C Company's men who stood in the front rank of those looking on.
Of course it was a breach of discipline, in a way, for privates to toss a non-commissioned officer, but neither Captain Freeman nor either of his lieutenants interfered. The non-com is not always safe, by any means, from blanket tossing.
At last, however, the blanket was dropped to the ground, and Corporal Raynes, breathless and very red-faced, was allowed to roll off the woolen surface.
As the corporal lay on the ground one of the men voiced the feeling of all his comrades in C Company by muttering grimly:
"Put up jobs that supply B's men with fresh meat and leave us out, will you?"