hat make a fellow wish that he
belonged to the Navy," insisted Pratt. "If we go out, as doughboys,
we'll have to tramp and hike until our shoes are full of sore feet, and
all for nothing, perhaps. If we belonged to the Navy, and were ordered
to patrol, we'd do it in a gunboat, and wouldn't care where we went, as
we'd always be on our gunboat, with, good meals ready at the stroke of
the bell, with baths, clean clothing, even easy chairs right at hand.
The Navy can keep on patroling even while two-thirds of a crew are in
their berths enjoying sweet sleep until the moment for action comes."

"Stop it," insisted Algy Ferrers. "Even in the Navy you'd find you'd
have to work like a horse. There are no easy ways of getting through
life, and a soldier ought not to look for 'em."

Pratt, who was a husky and sufficiently energetic young officer at need,
and who had merely been exercising his right to grumble, flushed and was
silent.

"I don't suppose Terry or myself will have the luck to be picked for
this sort of border patrol work, if it comes," suggested Hal.

"Probably you'll be kept on post until you're more accustomed to your
men," nodded Lieutenant Hapgood.

"Either way will suit me," said Noll. "I don't expect to have my pick of
anything until I've served a few years more."

"You won't have it then either," laughed Sears.

The meal over, Sears retired into a corner with Hal. Johnson joined
them with Noll. The two youngest officers in the regiment were handed
printed slips containing the routine work of the day at Fort Butler, and
also the hour for the call to each duty. Sears and Johnson added much
more information.

"You'll come to us for anything else that you want to know, of course,"
said Sears, in conclusion. "You are aware, of course, that your superior
officers are paid to answer questions."

"Thank you," acknowledged Hal.

It was soon nine o'clock, and the two Army boys, tired with their day of
travel and of new life, left the club early, going directly to quarters
and to Hal's room.

"I won't stay long," declared Noll, sinking into the easy chair that his
chum pushed forward. "But I've simply got to talk a bit with you,
bunkie, my head is so full of it all."

The chums chatted on until at last the notes of a bugle were borne to
their ears.

"Listen!" cried Hal, holding up one hand, his eyes glowing. "The same
good old Army taps!"

"We don't have to go to bed, since we added swords to our equipme