list?" asked Shackleton, turning to the waiting
lads, after he had seated himself.

"Yes, sir," answered both.

"Then you will sign the rolls," directed the recruiting officer, passing
papers forward, dipping a pen in ink and passing it to Hal.

Hal signed, slowly, with a solemn feeling. It was Noll's turn next.

"I will now administer the oath," continued Lieutenant Shackleton
gravely, as he rose at his desk. "Raise your right hand, Overton, and
repeat after me."

This was the oath of service that Hal repeated:

"'I Henry Overton, do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the United States of America; that I will serve them
honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever; and that I
will obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the
orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the rules and
articles of war.'"

Then Noll took the same oath.

"You have already signed the same oath as a part of your enlistment
contract," continued Lieutenant Shackleton. "I have now to certify that
you have taken the oath and signed before me."

Seating himself once more the recruiting officer certified in the
following form on each set of papers:

"Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this --
day of ---- , A. D. ----

"THOMAS P. SHACKLETON,
"First Lieutenant, 17th Cavalry,
"Recruiting Officer."

"That is all," finished the recruiting officer. "You are now recruits in
the United States Army. I wish you both all happiness and success. You
will take your further orders from my sergeant, or from the corporal to
whom he turns you over. You will probably find yourself at the recruit
rendezvous at Bedloe's Island in time for dinner to-day."

Touching a button on his desk the lieutenant waited until the sergeant
entered.

"Sergeant, turn these men over to Corporal Dodds. Come back in ten
minutes for the papers."

"Very good, sir."

The sergeant led them down the corridor, opening a door and leading the
way inside.

"Corporal Dodds, here are two recruits. Take care of them until I bring
the papers."

"Very good, Sergeant."

The door closed.

"Help yourselves to chairs, or stand and look out of the window, if
you'd rather," invited Corporal Dodds, who, himself, was seated at a
small desk.

Hal and Noll tried sitting down at first. This soon became so irksome