ndeed. It seems that you took stirring part in
assisting an Army officer last night."

"We obeyed Major Davis's orders, sir, if that is what you refer to," Hal
assented, once more saluting.

"And did it in a manner that distinguishes you as good soldiers, eh,
major?" went on the colonel, turning to Major Silsbee.

"Yes," replied Major Silsbee. "Major Davis's commendation is not earned
except by merit."

"You are surprised, I take it," resumed Colonel North, bending a shrewd
yet kindly glance on the recruits, "that we should already know of your
conduct last night. Major Davis wired me concerning it from Salida last
night. Men, this is a very good start, or, rather, a second one, for
your record, as forwarded me from the recruit rendezvous, mentions that
you have already been commended in orders for aiding in preventing the
escape of a prisoner. You start well, men, in the Thirty-fourth. Report
to your respective first sergeants that, with the approval of your
company commanders, you will not take up with duty until to-morrow. That
will give you time to look about the post. If you wish, you have also
permission to be off post this afternoon, for three hours beginning at
two o'clock. That is all."

"Thank you, sir," acknowledged each recruit, saluting. Then they stepped
forth.

"At the rate we're getting commended, we ought soon to be brigadier
generals," smiled Hal.

"A second lieutenancy, even after four years, will suit me well enough,"
retorted Noll. "But what shall we do now?"

"Plainly enough our first duty is to report to our first sergeants, as
ordered."

"Too bad we couldn't be bunkies, in the same company," murmured Noll.

"Yes; I would rather have had it that way. But I take it that one of the
first lessons a fellow has to learn in the Army is that he can't have
things his own way."

"At all events we can be together during a good deal of our leisure
time," declared Noll.

"Nothing--not even being half the world apart--could prevent our being
chums, old fellow."

Reaching barracks each recruit inquired where to find his own first
sergeant. Hal was soon facing Sergeant Gray, of B Company. The first
sergeant of a company is a highly important man. He is the ranking
non-commissioned officer of his company, and might aptly be termed the
"foreman" of the company. He lives right with his company all the time,
and knows each man thoroughly. The first sergeant is responsible to the
company commander f