“What’s this?” he questioned, sternly surveying four very calm but very injured young men. “What’s the trouble here?”
“None that we know of,” answered Roger respectfully.
“Then who called out ‘Fight!’?” snapped the non-com.
“It was not one of us.” Roger evaded a direct reply.
“Humph!” The sergeant shot a quick glance about the almost empty room. His keen eyes coming to rest on Bixton he made directly for him. “Did you call out ‘Fight!’?” he queried sharply.
Caught in his own trap, the color mounted to Bixton’s freckled face. “Yes.” The reply was grudgingly made.
“Why did you do it? Did you see anyone fighting?” demanded the sergeant satirically.
“I thought I did,” mumbled the man.
“You thought you did,” emphasized the non-com. He thereupon launched into a tirade of sarcastic rebuke that fell like verbal hailstones on the would-be trouble-maker’s ears.
“Come on, let’s beat it,” muttered Jimmy. “I’m so happy I could hug that sergeant.”