“I don’t care how you came,” he replied. “I am in command here for the present, and I order you to go.”
Then Donatello, realizing the situation, became, in his turn, determined and angry.
“I am an American citizen,” he declared. “I pay the tax. This military establishment, it is my money that helps to maintain it. I have the right here. I will not go.”
“Then I shall have you ejected.”
“At your peril that will be. I give you fair warning.”
For a moment the situation was tense. People who were sitting near by and heard the dialogue and saw the faces of the two angry men, grew restless and apprehensive. Just what would happen no one could conjecture.
But Sergeant Barriscale, without another word, turned on his heel, strode back to the center of the hall and signaled to the drummer to beat the assembly. Hardly had the last tap rolled from the end of the drum-stick when the command was given to “Fall in!”
When the lines were properly formed and dressed, and the men brought to a “Right shoulder arms!” Sergeant Barriscale began, from memory, to call the company roll. As each man’s name was called he responded distinctly: “Here!” and brought his piece smartly to an “order arms.”
At the end of the roll-call the captain and his lieutenants had not yet come down from their quarters to the drill-hall. But while Barriscale could not account for the delay he did not regret it. It left him still in charge of the company. Facing the ranks he gave the command:
“Sergeant McCormack, step two paces to the front.”