"Quite right, Overton," nodded Corporal Sykes. Then, turning to the three "solitaries," he demanded:
"Why are you prisoners guilty of insulting and abusive language toward a member of the guard?"
"He's too well satisfied with himself," sneered Bill Hooper.
"Ditto," scowled Dowley.
"What have you to say, Minturn?" demanded Corporal Sykes.
"The kid just sat down there to make us mad," replied Minturn in a growling voice. "The sight of that boot-lick makes me sick all over."
"That's all I want to know," replied Corporal Sykes calmly. "You've all admitted the abusive language, so I'll enter it on report, which will be brought up at court-martial. If there's any further report about you men I'll mention the matter to the officer of the day. Where are you going with that book, Overton?"
"Since the sight of myself disturbs the prisoners," Hal replied, "I am going to take my book outside."
"I'd rather you wouldn't," replied Corporal Sykes crisply. "Members of the guard have a right in here, and prisoners who don't like a member of the guard had no business to become prisoners."