‘Your proposition?’ demanded Ginger.
‘Anything from slicing to lynching. I guess the world ain’t any the richer for that production.’
‘We’ll catch him, duck him, and d—— the consequences.’
‘Tar and feather him,’ suggested Beefy.
‘I think you are all very stupid,’ remarked Billy. ‘Why should you worry yourself about an atom? He can’t go too far. The company officer will see to that. Give him a full rope and he’ll hang himself.’ Billy Greens was afraid of revolt.
‘Well, boys, I’m a lawyer,’ submitted Nobby. ‘This man may be an ass; but he’s got the Manual of Military Law behind him, and don’t forget it. We’re in the army, “don’t you know,” and this youth would come out top-dog. Again, I’m too jolly lazy to entertain the thought of getting chucked for my commission, and sent back to do orderly-man. Therefore, I say, give him rope, and, as the padre says, he’ll hang himself.’
‘Meantime we suffer,’ commented Ginger.
‘That suffering, old chap, is not as bad as fighting the Boche.’
‘Isn’t it?’
‘Let’s vote for Nobby’s idea,’ I said. ‘We don’t want to make bally fools of ourselves. Besides, there’s the reputation of the school, and the old commandant. I don’t think we ought to let the Old Man down. He’s been good to us.’