“I cry you mercy,” she panted. “But I am a whole-hearted woman, and when you bid me charge I am all for charging.”
Halfman did his best to muffle amusement in a reproving frown. “Limit your zeal discreetly,” he urged, and was again the drill sergeant.
“Shoulder your pikes.”
The weapons followed the words with some show of decorum.
“Comport your pikes.”
Again the evolution was carried out with some degree of accuracy.
“Port your pikes.”
Here all followed the word of command fairly well with the exception of Garlinge’s fellow-rustic, who simply strove to repeat the order already executed. Halfman turned upon him sharply.
“Now, Clupp,” he cried, “will you never learn the difference between port and comport?”