Private Ellis appeared much confused.
"Answer me," Dick commanded.
"The case doesn't seem the same to me, sir, as serving as a fighting man in the war."
"The case is exactly the same, except in the matter of magnitude," Prescott retorted. "Germany is the burglar, trying to break into the house of the world. You haven't time necessary courage to fight a German yourself, but you will be glad to see a braver man serve on the firing line in your stead. And you are a conscientious objector, too, are you, Rindle?"
"I—-I thought I was, sir," confessed the soldier. "Your questions, sir, and your way of putting the case confuse me."
"And you, Pitson?" Dick demanded, eyeing the third man. "Knowing that, if you are sent to some non-combatant work, some other man will have to be sent to this company to do your killing work for you, you wish to dodge fighting duty?"
"Yes, sir; I do," Pitson answered unhesitatingly.
"Pitson, consider the matter seriously and try to decide whether you're a moral hero or a physical coward!"
"Sir, I am no mor——-"
Here the man hesitated, growing red in the face.