parade. Though it was the first time that either had stood with troops
as officers, they went through all the movements mechanically. They had
not put in three years in the ranks for nothing.

Yet every moment, every movement of parade now had a new significance to
the young lieutenants. Then, when it was all over, and the men
dismissed, the officers returned to their quarters to prepare for
dinner.

Hal and Noll reached mess ten minutes ahead of the dinner hour. Most of
the officers who would dine at the club were already present.

"Mr. Sears," asked Hal, going over to his first lieutenant, "can you
spare me a little time after dinner?"

"Easily, Overton. You want to ask me about the routine duties, I
imagine."

"Yes. Captain Foster has ordered me to full duty beginning with
to-morrow."

"Then we'll find seats in the reading room after dinner. It won't take
very long to give you the schedule and the inside ropes."

In the Army punctuality is made a prime virtue for both officers and
men. Hence there were no laggards at dinner. Every officer took his seat
at the long table at the minute of 6.30. Hapgood, who was officer of the
day, came in with his sword at his side; he placed that weapon in a
handy corner.

"The evening's news is that the Thirty-fourth is back in Colorado,"
announced Lieutenant Brisbane, glancing down the table.

"Just before we started west we read that their transport had arrived at
San Francisco," answered Noll.

"And Major Silsbee's first battalion is at its old station, Fort
Clowdry," added Mr. Brisbane. "By way of further news I may add that
Major Tipton told me, a few minutes ago, that Major Silsbee had been
ordered by wire to hold his battalion in readiness for a call from this
department."

"Mexican border troubles?" asked Lieutenant Hapgood.

"Yes."

"Then the government knows, better than we do, that the border trouble
threatens to grow acute," remarked Lieutenant Sears. "It has been
understood, I think, that troops from this post will be the first
infantry ordered out to the support of the two cavalry troops now
patroling."

"Oh, we'll get some of that barefoot business presently," grumbled
Pratt. "A beastly job. The state of Texas ought to call out its police
to take care of the matter."

"Except," remarked Sears dryly, "that it is the province of the United
States, not of a single state, to preserve neutrality at the border."

"It's cases like this Mexican business t