"Lying sneak!" from Bill Hooper.
"Two-cent boot-lick!" was Corporal Minturn's contribution.
Hal laid down his book, rose and stepped over to where he could look at the three, one after another.
"If you men don't hold your tongues," he warned coolly, "I shall have to report you to the corporal of the guard for abusive talk. I don't want to do that, either."
"Oh, my, a little bit of authority!" sneered Corporal Minturn.
"Tin general!" taunted Dowley.
"Go and boot-lick some more!" urged Bill Hooper.
"Corporal of the guard!" summoned Soldier Hal.
Corporal Sykes entered promptly.
"Corporal, these men in solitary are amusing themselves by heaping insults upon me. I don't report them, Corporal, on account of personal feeling, for they're down on their luck, and they hold me responsible for it, as in a measure, of course, I am. But I don't want to get on the record for laxity while on guard."