142
XIV. ALGY COMES TO A CONCLUSION 153
XV. PLANNING FOR THE SOLDIER'S HUNT 162
XVI. HAL'S GUN MAKES THE REST CURIOUS 172
XVII. BIG GAME AND A NIGHT IN CAMP 182
XVIII. HOLDING UP A CAMP GUARD 194
XIX. WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE 203
XX. THE EIGHTH MOCCASIN APPEARS 212
XXI. THE ENEMY HAS HIS INNINGS 219
XXII. THE NAVY HEARD FROM 225
XXIII. THE UNITED STATES SERVICES FIGHT TOGETHER 235
XXIV. CONCLUSION 244

Uncle Sam's Boys as Sergeants

CHAPTER I

"TIPPED OFF" BY WIG-WAG

LIEUTENANT POPE, battalion adjutant of the first battalion of the
Thirty-fourth United States Infantry, looked up from his office desk as
the door swung open and a smart, trim-looking young corporal strode in.

Pausing before the desk, the young corporal came to a precise, formal
salute. Then, dropping his right hand to his side, the soldier stood at
attention.

"Good morning, Corporal Overton."

"Good morning, sir."

"What do you wish?"

"I have been making inquiries, sir," continued Corporal Hal Overton,
"and I am informed that you have some signaling flags among the
quartermaster's stores."

"I believe I have," nodded Lieutenant Pope.

"I have come to ask, sir, if I may borrow a couple of the flags."

"Borrow? Then, Corporal, I take it that you do not want the flags for
duty purposes?"

"Not immediately for duty purposes, sir. Corporal Terry and myself would
like to practise at wig-wagging until we become reasonably expert.
Sergeant Hupner is an expert at wig-wagging, I understand."

"Yes, indeed," agreed Lieutenant Pope heartily. "Even in the Signal
Corps of the Army there are few better signalmen than the sergeant."

"So I understand, sir. Corporal Terry and I are delighted at the idea of
having the sergeant instruct us."

"But what do you want to do, especially, with flag signaling?" inquired
the quartermaster.

"It is simply, sir, that we want to make ourselves better soldiers."

"It is rarely that we find better soldiers than Terry and yourself,"
replied the quartermaster, with a friendly smile. "But you are quite
right, none the less. A soldier can never know too much of military
duties. I see no objection whatever to your having the flags, but as
they are not a matter of