"The—-the day is hot, sir, and—-and I knew the men were about played out," stammered Mock.
"How long have you been in the Army, sergeant?" Greg continued.
"About two years and a half, sir."
"In all that time did you ever know officers or enlisted men to be excused from full performance of ordered duty on account of the weather?"
"N-n-no, sir."
"Then why did you start a new system on your own authority?" Greg asked quietly.
Mock tried to answer, opened his mouth, in fact, and uttered a few incoherent sounds, which quickly died in his throat.
"Sergeant Mock," said Greg, "we have just heard from our commanding officer. He demands the utmost from every officer, non-com and private. Are you prepared, and resolved, from this moment, to give the utmost that is in you at all times?"
"Yes, sir!" replied Mock with great emphasis.
"You mean what you are saying, Sergeant?"