"Such humbug from a blooming plug!" Judsi muttered.
I told them about the supplementary inspection, and moderated my tone in view of their obvious bad temper.
"Come along, let's look alive. Everyone must do his bit!"
Cook-house door had gone. Lamalou exclaimed:
"Arf a mo'. Carn't work on an empty belly."
A long hour elapsed before any one deigned to start work again and even then they did not put their backs into it. I was horrified at the number of dirty mess-tins and water-bottles, of uncleaned boots, and above all, of the fittings missing; sets of "pull throughs" had to be complete in groups of four! Stores orders must be got and signed by the company sergeant-major, and the things drawn ... and the time was being frittered away in dawdling and gossiping. I think the knaves did it on purpose. My remarks all fell on deaf ears, whatever tone I adopted—I tried them all! I felt a sort of jeering hostility rising against me which infuriated me, though I did not let them see it.
Bouillon luckily lent a hand. Having once had the rank of corporal, he still retained a certain hold over his comrades.
He laid himself out and was here, there, and everywhere, lavishing rebukes and fisticuffs.
When Captain Ribet reappeared at the time arranged everything went well. The inspection was even more minute than it had been in the morning, but this time he found only a few infinitesimal details to criticise.
When he left he said to me: