"Huh! He's a bigger liar than you are."
"What's that human calamity behind you howling about?" demanded Private Overton.
"He's intimating that the truth isn't in us because we claim to like field duty."
"Hyman always was a bake-house soldier," laughed Hal cheerily.
"What's that kid saying about me?" demanded Hyman.
"Overton says," reported Noll, not very accurately, "that he can't understand why you're in the Army at all. He says that one of your temperament could find a job in civil life that would suit you much better."
"What job is that?" asked Hyman.
"Nurse girl," grinned Terry.
"For that," threatened Hyman, "I'll put salt in that kid's coffee to-night."
The conversation was carried on in a low tone of course. Troops in the field, marching at route step, are allowed to carry on quiet conversations when not supposed to be near the enemy.