Dressed only in their shirts and slacks they formed up in the drill-hall. There was a good deal of disorder, and the N.C.O.'s, in early-morning temper, roared above the din. It happened that Dick Kennedy was orderly officer for the week. When the men were at last ranged in ranks, dressed, and numbered by the sergeants, he posted himself in front and, with a nervous twitching of the lips, said gently--
"Battalion, 'shun!"
"Louder, louder!" whispered a fellow-officer who had come up behind him. "This isn't a mothers' meeting."
The second lieutenant tried again.
"Battalion, 'shun! Advance in fours from the right. Form fours!"
Some of the men knew what to do, but many of the new recruits looked about them blankly.
"You don't know the movements?" said the lieutenant. "Well, when I say 'form fours,' even numbers take one pace to the left with the left foot and one pace to the right with the right. Now, form fours!"
The result was disorder--jostling in the ranks, cries of "Who're you a-shoving of!"
"Sorry! My mistake!" said Kennedy, with a smile. "We'll try again. I should have said, 'one pace to the rear with the left foot.' Now then, form fours!"
His cheerfulness won the men's sympathy, and the order being now correctly carried out, one or two of them cheered.