“The most you could do in that case; the most you could do if you were sitting as a summary court, would be to send him back to the ranks.”
“Then I’ll send him back to the ranks.”
“In my judgment that would be too severe a punishment.”
Up to this moment, save at the beginning of the conversation, Captain Murray had repressed his impatience with admirable self-control. But now it again got the better of him.
“Too severe!” he exclaimed. “Why, man! do you know that such an offense as his, in the regular army, in time of war, would be punishable with death?”
“I know. But we’re not in the regular army, and we’re not at war.”
“If I had my way about it,” was the captain’s reply, “we would be both in the federal service and at war. That slaughter on the other side will never stop until this nation goes in and stops it. The sooner we get about it the better.”
“I agree with you. But, as to Ben, I hope you will be lenient.”
“And I promise you that I will punish him to the full extent of my authority.”
The captain was resolute, so Hal had to let it go that way.