“Lieutenant McCormack,” he said, “do you intend to permit those fellows to stir the rabble up to violence with incendiary speeches?”
The lieutenant acknowledged the salute and replied calmly:
“It is not our mission here to interfere with the right of free speech or of public assembly.”
“But,” shouted Ben, “this is simply a mob. The thing will develop into a riot. The time to stop it is now. I demand that you put this company into action and disperse that crowd.”
Hal looked his first sergeant squarely in the eyes. He was not angry, but there was a certain unusual note of decision in his voice as he replied.
“I shall not permit this company,” he said, “so long as I am in command, to oppress or harass any person acting within his rights. You will take your post.”
“But these hoodlums are not within their rights. They——”
“You will take your post, sir!”
The look in Lieutenant McCormack’s eyes, the ring in his voice, admonished Barriscale that the parley was at an end. He stepped back into his place at the right of the line, and came to “order arms” with a crash of the butt of his rifle on the pavement.