fails to take heed of your
complaint, then go to the first sergeant of the company. If he fails to
heed your complaint, then go to the company commander. Is that clear?"

The recruits nodded.

"Second," pursued Sergeant Brimmer, "no non-commissioned officer has any
right to strike you, unless it be strictly in self-defense, or in
defense of an officer who is threatened by you. You have the same remedy
of complaint, if any non-commissioned officer strikes you, or lays
violent hands on you, as in the case of vile or profane language. Is
that clear."

"Yes, Sergeant," came from all sides.

"Any questions?" asked Sergeant Brimmer, looking about him.

"Has any officer any right to direct bad language at an enlisted man, or
to strike him?" queried Noll.

"The officer has no more right than anyone else, except in an emergency
of danger to himself or others," replied Sergeant Brimmer. "But there's
this difference: I've been in the Army fourteen years, and I never knew
an officer to degrade himself in that fashion. But occasionally a
non-commissioned officer will so disgrace himself. Either the officer or
non-commissioned officer who swears at or strikes an enlisted man may be
court-martialed, and, if it is found that he is guilty, he is dismissed
from the service."

"We've had an awful lot to put up with from Corporal Shrimp, Sergeant,"
announced one of the uniformed recruits.

"I'm afraid you have, men. But I don't want you to carry tales to me.
Tale-bearing is never worth while, nor encouraged, in the Army. Corporal
Shrimp's case is now before the commanding officer. To-night or
to-morrow an officer will be here to take the complaints of any of you
men who have grievances. You will be expected to complain to the officer
only about wrongs that have been done you by Corporal Shrimp. The
officer will not permit any tale-bearing about anything that happened to
anyone else. Corporal Shrimp is now in another squad room, under arrest.
He will probably be court-martialed. In any case he won't return here
until his case has been thoroughly disposed of."

The door opened, and a corporal of twenty-five years, or under, entered,
striding straight up to Brimmer.

"Sergeant, I am directed by the company commander to report to you for
quarters and duty here," announced the newcomer.

"Very good, Corporal Davis. I will assign you to your cot at once."

The new corporal was speedily assigned, after which the sergeant left
the