While the sergeant was busy removing a legging and unlacing a shoe Captain Holmes glanced up the road to discover that the battalion was counter-marching.
"Be quick about it, Sergeant," Greg urged.
Moving no faster than he had to, Mock took off his shoe, then slowly turned the sock down, peeling it off.
"Is that the worst foot?" Greg demanded, in astonishment.
"I don't know, sir; they both hurt me."
"Do you want to show me the other foot, or do you wish to get back among the file closers?"
"I—-I can't walk, sir."
Down on one knee went Greg, carefully inspecting the foot and feeling it. The skin was clean, rosy, firm.
"Why there isn't a sign of a blister," Captain Holmes declared. "Nor is there an abrasion of any kind, or any callous. There isn't even a corn. That's as healthy a doughboy foot as I've seen. Dress your foot again, and put on your legging—-pronto."
A "doughboy" is an infantry soldier. "Pronto" is a word the Army has borrowed from the Spanish, and means, "Be quick about it."