"Lieutenants? Shave-tails?" guffawed Dowley. "Hooper, they'll never even be corporals. It's a bob-tail discharge for theirs!"
Second lieutenants, when their commissions are very new, are often referred to as "shave-tails." A "bob-tail" is a dishonorable discharge, after court-martial. To a real soldier a "bob-tail" means unspeakable disgrace.
"A bob-tail for theirs—yes, sir," repeated Private Dowley. "And I'm genius enough to bring it about!"
"Perhaps you won't need my help, for you sure are some smart," suggested Bill Hooper in a tone of pretended admiration.
"I'm smart enough to see that you'd drop out and use me as the catspaw," growled Private Dowley. "None of that, Bill! You'll stand right by and do half of the dirty work in exchange for half of the satisfaction. Between us we'll give that fool Overton a new middle name, and that middle name will be 'Bob-tail'!"
CHAPTER II
ON THE GREAT SUMMER HIKE
FROM up the mountain road one of a little group of officers ahead sent back an informal signal.
"B Company fall in!" called out Lieutenant Dick Prescott.