WiththemstoodMcCuaig。Hisblanketrollcontaininghisgrub，withfrying—panandtea—pailattached，layathisfeet；hisriflebesideit。
Foramomentortwohestoodlookingbackupthestreambywhich，lastnight，hehadcome。Thenhebegantyinghispaddlestothecanoethwartsinpreparationforpackingitacrosstheportage。
Ashewastyingonthesecondpaddle，Duff’seyefellonhim。
\"What’sup，McCuaig？\"hesaid。\"Aren’tyougoinguptothePost？\"
\"No，IguessIain’tgoin’upnomore，\"repliedMcCuaigslowly。
\"Whatdoyoumean？Youaren’tgoingbackhome？\"
\"No。Myoldshackwilldowithoutmeforawhile，Iguess。——Say，\"
hecontinued，facingarounduponDuffandlookinghimsquarelyintheface，\"thisyoungchapsays\"——puttinghishanduponBarry’sshoulder——\"BritainisgoingtohaveahellofatimelickingGermanybackintoherownorbut。ThempaperssaidlastnightthatCanadawasgoinginstrong。Doyouthinkshecoulduseafellowlikeme？\"
Asilencefelluponthegroupofmen。
\"What！Doyoumeanit，McCuaig？\"saidDuffatlength。
Themanturnedhisthin，eaglefacetowardthespeaker，alightinhiseyes。
\"Why，ain’tyougoin’？Ain’teveryonegoin’thatcan？Ifafellowstoodononesidewhilehiscountrywasfightin’，wherewouldhelivewhenit’sallover？HereadoutofthepapersthatthemGermanswereshootin’womenandchildren。So——\"hisfacebegantowork，\"amIgoin’tostandbyandasksomeoneelsetomake’emquit？No，byGod！\"
Themenstoodwatchinghisface，curiouslytwistedandquivering。
ThenwithoutawordDuffseizedhispack，andswungintothetrail，everymanfollowinghiminhisorder。Withoutpausing，exceptforabriefhalfhouratnoon，andanotherlaterinthedayforeating，theypressedthetrail，runningwhatrapidstheycouldandportagingtheothers，untilintheearlyeveningtheysaw，faraway，adirtyblurontheskyline。
\"Hurrah！\"yelledFielding。\"Goodoldfirebus，waitingforus。\"
\"Somebodyrunaheadandholdher，\"saidDuff。
Barryflunghispackdownandstartedaway。
\"Comebackhere，Barry，\"criedKnight。\"You’renotfit。You’reallin。\"
\"That’sright，too，\"saidMcCuaig。\"IguessI’llgo。\"
Andoffhesetwiththelong，shuffling，tirelesstrotwithwhich，forahundredyears，the\"runnersofthewoods\"havepackedtheirloadsandtrackedtheirgameinthewildsofnorthwesternCanada。
CHAPTERVII
BARRICADESANDBAYONETS
ThecityofEdmontonwasinanuproar，itsstreetsthrongedwithexcitedmen，ranchersandcowboysfromtheranches，lumberjacksfromthefoothillcamps，menfromthemines，trapperswithlean，hardfaces，inweirdgarb，fromthenorth。
Thenewsfromthefrontwasominous。Belgiumwasasmokingwaste。
Herskieswereblackwiththeburningofhertowns，villagesandhomesteads，hersoilredwiththebloodofheroldmen，herwomenandchildren。TheFrencharmies，drivenbackinroutfromtheBelgianfrontier，werebeingpoundedtodeathbytheGermanhordes。
FortresseshithertoconsideredimpregnableweretumblinglikeninepinsbeforetheterriblesmashingofAustrianandGermansixteen—inchguns。AlreadyvonKluckwithhisfourhundredthousandofconqueringwarriorswasatthegatesofParis。
Mostominousofall，theBritisharmy，thatgallant，littlesacrificialarmy，ofascantseventy—fivethousandmen，holdinglikeabulldogtotheflankofvonBulow’smightyarmy，fiftytimesasstrong，threatenedbyvonKluckontheleftflankandbyvonHousenontheright，wasslowingdowntheGermanadvance，butwasitselfbeingslowlygroundintothebloodydustofthenorthernandeasternroadsofNorthernandEasternFrance。
BlackdaysthesewereforthemenofBritishblood。Wastheworldtoseesomethingnewinwar？WereGermanstoovercomemenoftheraceofNelson，andWellingtonandColinCampbell？
Athome，hundredsofthousandswerebatteringattherecruitingoffices。IntheDominionsoftheEmpireoverseasitwasthesame。
InCanadaahundredthousandmenweredemandingaplaceinthefirstCanadiancontingentofthirty—fivethousand，nowalmostreadytosail。GeneralSamatOttawawasbeingsnowedunderbyentreating，insistent，cajoling，threateningtelegrams。AlreadynorthernAlbertahadsenttwothousandmen。TherumourinEdmontonranthattherewereonlyafewplaceslefttobefilledinthenorthAlbertaquota。Forthesefewplaceshundredsofmenwerefightinginthestreets。
Alightingfromtheirtrain，Duffandhismenstoodamazed，aghast，gazinguponthescenebeforethem。Duffclimbedawagonwheelandsurveyedthecrowdpackingthestreetinfrontofthebulletinboards。
\"Nouse，thisway，boys。We’llhavetogoaround。Comeon。\"
Theywenton。Upsidestreetsandlanes，throughbackyardsandshopstheywentuntilatlengththeyemergedwithinahundredyardsoftherecruitingoffice。
Duffcalledhismenabouthim。
\"Boys，we’llhavetobluffthem，\"hesaid。\"You’reapartyofrecruitsthatCol。Kavanaghexpects。You’vebeensentfor。I’mbringingyouinunderorders。Lookasmuchlikesoldiersasyoucan，andboreinlikehell。Comeon！\"
Theybegantobore。Atoncetherewasanuproar，punctuatedwithvociferousandvariedprofanity。
Duffprovedhimselfaneffectiveleader。
\"Here，letmepass，\"heshoutedintothebacksofmen’sheads。
\"I’mondutyhere。ImustgetthroughtoColonelKavanagh。Keepupthere，men；keepyourline！Standback，please！Makeway！\"
Hishugebulk，distortedfaceandhisloudandauthoritativevoicestartledmenintotemporarysubmission，andbeforetheycouldrecoverthemselvesheandhislittlecompanyofhard—boringmenwerethrough。
Twenty—fiveyardsfromtherecruitingofficeasiderushofthecrowdcaughtthem。
\"They’vesmashedthebarricades，\"aboyfromatelegraphpolecalledout。
Duffandhismenfoughttoholdtheirplaces，buttheybecameconsciousofasteadypressurebackwards。
\"What’sdoingnow，boy？\"shoutedDufftotheurchinclingingtothetelegraphpole。
\"Thefusileers——theyarestickingtheirbayonetsintothem。\"
Beforethelineofbayonetsthecrowdretreatedslowly，butDuffandhiscompanyheldtheirground，allowingthecrowdtoebbpastthem，untiltheyfoundthemselvesagainstthelineofbayonets。
\"Letmethroughhere，sergeant，withmyparty，\"saidDuff。\"I’munderordersofColonelKavanagh。\"
Thesergeant，anoldBritisharmyman，lookedthemover。
\"Haveyouanorder，sir——awrittenorder，Imean？\"
\"No，\"saidDuff。\"Ihaven’t，butthecolonelexpectsus。Heiswaitingformenow。\"
\"Sorry，sir，\"repliedthesergeant，\"myordersaretoletnoonethroughwithoutawrittenpass。\"
Duffargued，stormed，threatened，swore；buttonopurpose。TheN。C。O。knewhisjob。
\"Sendanotein，\"suggestedBarryinDuff’sear。
\"Goodidea，\"repliedDuff，andwrotehurriedly。
\"Here，takethisthroughtoyourcolonel，\"hesaid，passingthenotetothesergeant。
AlmostimmediatelyColonelKavanaghcameoutandgreetedDuffwarmly。
\"Whereinthiswidecreationhaveyoubeen，Duff？\"heexclaimed。
\"I’vewantedyouterribly。\"
\"HereIamnow，then，\"answeredDuff。\"Sixofus。We’regoingwithyou。\"
\"Itcan’tbedone，\"saidthecolonel。\"Ihaveonlytwentyplacesleft；everyonepromisedtentimesover。\"
\"Thatmakesiteasy，Kavanagh。Youcangivesixofthemtous。\"
\"Duff，itsimplycan’tbedone。YouknowI’dgiveittoyouifI
could。I’vewiresfromOttawabackingupahundredapplicants，actuallyorderingmetoputthemon。No！It’snouse，\"continuedthecolonel，holdinguphishand。\"Lookhere，I’llgiveyouapointer。Wehavegotwordto—daythatthere’stobeasecondcontingent。NeilFraserisoutthereinyourdistrict，Wapiti，raisingacompanyoftwohundredandfiftymen。Wehavestrippedthatcountrybarealready，sohe’supagainstit。HewantsWapitimen，hesays。Theyarenobetterthananyother，buthethinkstheyare。Yougetoutthereto—night，Duff，andgetinonthatthing。Youwillgetacommission，too。Nowhike！Hike！Go！
HonesttoGod，Duff，Iwantyouwithmybattalion，andifIcanworkitafterwards，I’llgetyouexchanged，butyouronlychancenowisWapiti。Go，forGod’ssake，goquick！\"
\"Whatdoyousay，boys？\"askedDuff，wheelinguponhismen。
\"Isay，go！\"saidKnight。
Inthisdecisiontheyallagreed。
\"Goitis，\"saidDuff。\"Rightaboutturn。Goodluck，Kavanagh，damnyou。Iseeyouhavegotagoodsergeantthere。\"
\"Who？McDowell？Nonebetter。Youcouldn’tbeathim，eh？\"saidthecolonelwithagrin。
Thesergeantstoodatattention，withawoodenface。
\"He’sthekindofmantheywantinthefrontlines，\"saidDuff。
\"Thedevilhimselfcouldn’tbreakthroughwhereheis。\"
\"That’swhyIhavehim。Goodluck。Good—bye！\"
Throughoutthenighttheymarched，nowandthenreceivingaliftfromaranchwagon，andinthegreyofthemorning，weary，hungry，butresoluteforaplaceintheWapiticompany，theymadethevillage。
Earlyasitwas，Barryfoundhisfatherastir，withbreakfastinreadiness。
\"Hello，boy！\"criedhisfatherrunningtohimwithoutstretchedhands。
\"Hello，dad！\"answeredBarry。Hisfatherthrewasearchingglanceoverhisson’sfaceasheshookhishandwarmly。
\"Notaword，Barry，untilyoueat。Notaword。Gogetreadyforyourbath。I’llhaveitforyouinaminute。No，notoneword。
Quick。March。Thatistheonlywordthesedays。AsyoueatI’llgiveyouthenews。\"
Resolutelyherefusedtotalkuntilhesawhissonbeginuponhisbreakfast。Thenhepouredforthastreamofnews。Thewholecountrywasaflamewithwarenthusiasm。Albertahadofferedhalfamillionbushelsofoatsfortheimperialarmy，andathousandhorsesormore。TheCalgarydistricthadrecruitedtwothousandmen，theEdmontondistrictasmanymore。AlloverCanada，fromVancouvertoHalifax，itwasthesame。
FromtheWapitidistricttwenty—sixranchers，furnishingtheirownhorses，hadalreadygone。EwenInneswasinEdmonton。HisbrotherMalcolmwasinuniform，too，andhisyoungbrotherJimwaskeentoenlist。NeilFraserwasbusyraisingacompanyofWapitimen。
YoungPicklesandMcCannhadjoinedupasbuglers。
Andsothestreamflowed，Barrylisteningwithgravefacebutmakingnoresponse。
\"AndI’mgladyou’reback，myboy。I’mgladyou’reback，\"saidhisfather，clappinghimontheshoulder。
Therestofthemealwaseateninsilence。Theywerehavingeachhisownthoughts，andforthefirsttimeintheirlifetogether，theykepttheirthoughtstothemselves。
\"You’regoingtoyouroffice，Dad，\"saidBarry，whentheyhadclearedaway，andsetthehouseinorder。
\"No，theofficeisclosed，andwillbeforsometime，Iimagine。
I’mbusywithNeilFraser。I’mactingpaymaster，quartermaster，recruitingsergeant，andhalfadozenotherthings。\"
\"I’llgodownwithyou，\"saidBarry，ashisfatherrosetogo。
Hisfathercamebacktohim，puthishandsonhisshoulders，andsaid：
\"Barry，Iwantyoutogotobed。\"
\"Nonsense，dad。I’mallright。I’mgoingdowntownwithyou。\"
\"Barry，\"saidhisfather，\"wehavehardtimesbeforeus，andyoumustbefit。Iaskyoutogotobedandsleeptherethisforenoon。
You’rehalfasleepnow。Thisafternoonweshallfaceuptoourjob。\"
Hisfather’svoicewasquietlyauthoritativeandBarryyielded。
\"Allright，dad。I’lldoasyousay，andthisafternoon——well，we’llsee。\"
Atthenoondaymealtheywereconsciousofamutualrestraint。Forthefirsttimeintheirlivestheywerenotopeningtoeachothertheirinnermostsouls。Theexperiencewasasdistressingasitwasunusual。Thefather，asifindreadofsilence，wasobviouslyexertinghimselftokeepastreamoftalkflowing。Barrywaslisteningwithafaceverygraveandveryunlikethebrightandbuoyantfaceheusuallycarried。Theyavoidedeachother’seyes，andpaidlittleheedtotheirfood。
AtlengthBarrypushedbackhischair。
\"Willyouexcuseme，dad，\"hesaid。\"IthinkIshallstepoutamomentintothegarden。\"
\"Do，Barry，\"saidhisfather，inobviousrelief。\"Youarefaggedout，myboy。\"
\"Thanks，dad。Iamabitplayedout。\"
\"Andtakeiteasythisafternoon，Barry。To—nightyouwilltellmeaboutyourtrip，and——and——we’llhaveatalk。\"
\"Goodolddad！\"saidBarry。\"Youdounderstandachap。Seeyoulater，then，\"hecalledbackashepassedthroughthedoor。
Hisfathersatgazingbeforehimforsomemomentswithadeepshadowonhisface。
\"Thereissomethingwrongwiththatboy，\"hesaidtohimself。\"I
wishIknewwhatitwas。\"
Hesethishouseinorder，movingheavilyasifasuddenweightofyearshadfallenuponhisshoulders，andtookhiswayslowlydownthestreet。
\"Iwonderwhatitis，\"hemused，refusingtogiveformtoahorriblethoughtthathoveredlikeaspectreaboutthewindowsofhissoul。
Thefirstglanceathisson’sfaceatthetimeoftheeveningmealmadehisheartsingwithinhim。
\"He’sallrightagain！He’sallright！\"hesaidtohimselfjubilantly。
\"Hello，dad，\"criedBarry，ashisfatherenteredtheroom。
\"Supper’sjustready。Howdoyoufeel，eh？\"
\"Better，myboy——firstrate，Imean。I’mproperlyhungry。You’rerested，Icansee。\"
\"I’mallright，dad！I’mallright！\"criedBarry，inhisoldcheeryway。\"Dad，Iwanttoapologisetoyou。Iwasn’tmyselfto—
day，butnowI’mallrightagain。Dad，I’vejoinedup。I’masoldiernow，\"hesaidwithasmileonhisface，butwithanxiouseyesturnedonhisfather。
\"Joinedup！\"echoedhisfather。\"Barry，youhaveenlisted！ThankGod，myboy。Ifeared——Ithought——No，damnedifIdid！\"headded，withsuchanunusualburstofpassionthatBarrycouldonlygazeathimwithastonishment。
\"Forgiveme，myboy，\"hesaid，comingforwardwithoutstretchedhand。\"ForamomentIconfessIthought——\"Againhepaused，apparentlyunabletocontinue。
\"Youthought，dad，\"criedBarry，\"and——forgiveme，dad——Ithoughttoo。Ioughttohaveknownyoubetter。\"
\"AndI，you，myson。\"
Theyshookhandswitheachotherinanecstasyofjubilation。
\"MyGod，I’mgladthat’sthrough，\"saidtheolderman。\"Wewerebothfools，Barry，butthankGodthathorrorispast。Nowtellmeallabouteverything——yourtrip，yourplans。Let’shaveagoodtalkaswealwaysdo。\"
\"Comeonthen，dad，\"criedBarry。\"Let’shaveaneatfirst。ByJove，Ifeelathousandyearsyounger。IgototheM。O。to—morrowforanexamination。\"
\"Heisquiteunusuallysevereinhisinterpretationoftheregulations，Iunderstand，\"saidhisfather。\"Heisturningmendownrightandleft。Heknows，ofcourse，thatthereareplentytochoosefrom。Butthereisnofearofyourfitness，Barry。\"
\"Notmuch，\"saidBarry，withagaylaugh。
Neverhadtheyspentahappiereveningtogether。True，thespectreofwarwouldthrustitselfuponthem，buttheyfaceditasmen——
withafullappreciationofitssolemnreality，butwithoutfear，andwithaquietdeterminationtomakewhateversacrificemightbedemandedofthem。Theperfectunderstandingthathadalwaysmarkedtheirintercoursewitheachotherwasrestored。Theintolerableburdenofmutualuncertaintyinregardtoeachother’sattitudetowardthewarwaslifted。Allshadowsthatlaybetweenthemweregone。Nothingelsereallymattered。
Thedayfollowing，Barryreceivedarudeshock。TheM。O。，afteranexamination，tohisamazementanddismay，pronouncedhimphysicallyunfitforservice。
\"Andwhy，pray？\"criedhisfatherindignantly，whenBarryannouncedtheastoundingreport。\"Isthemanafool？Iunderstoodthathewasstrict。Butyou！unfit！Itispreposterous。Unfit！how？\"
\"Heartmurmur，\"saidBarry。\"Setsitdowntoasthma。YourememberItoldyouIhadarottenattackaftermyexperiencelastweekintheriver。HesuggestedthatIapplyforapositioninanambulancecorps，andheisgivingmealettertoColonelSidleighatEdmonton。Iamgoingto—morrowtoEdmontontoseeSidleigh，andbesidesIhavesomechurchbusinesstoattendto。Imustcalluponmysuperintendent。YourememberImadeanapplicationtohimforanothermissionfield。\"
HefoundColonelSidleighcourteouslywillingtoaccepthisapplication，theanswertowhich，hewasinformed，hemightexpectinafortnight；andsowentwithacomparativelylighthearttohisinterviewwithhissuperintendent。
Theinterview，however，turnedoutnotentirelyashehadexpected。
Hewentwithanideaofsurrenderinghisappointment。Hissuperintendentmadehimanofferofanotherandgreater。
\"Sotheyturnedyoudown，\"saidthesuperintendent。\"Well，I
consideritmostprovidential。Youhaveappliedforapositionontheambulancecorps。Asfineasisthatservice，andassplendidasareitspossibilities，Iofferyousomethingmuchfiner，andI
willevensaymuchmoreimportanttoourarmyandtoourcause。WeareinneedofmenfortheChaplainService，andforthisservicewedemandthepickedmenofourchurch。Theappointmentsthathavebeenmadealreadyaresomeofthemmostunsuitable，some，Iregrettosay，scandalous。Letmetellyou，sir，ofanexperienceinWinnipegonlylastweek。Itwas，myfortunetofallinwiththecommandingofficerofaSaskatchewanunit。Ifoundhiminarageagainstthechurchandallitsofficials。Hischaplainhadbecomesohilariousatthemessthathewasquiteunabletocarryon。\"
\"Hilarious？\"inquiredBarry。
\"Hilarious，sir。Yes，plaindrunk。Thinkofit。Thinkofthecrime！theshameofit！Amanchargedwiththeresponsibilityofthesoulsofthesemengoingtowar——possiblytotheirdeath——
drunk，intheirpresence！AmanstandingforGodandthegreateternalverities，incapacitatedbeforethem！ItookthematterupwithOttawa，andIhavethissatisfactionatleast，thatIbelievethatnosuchappointmentwilleverbemadeagain。Thatchaplain，I
maysaytoo，hasbeendismissed。Ihavehere，sir，amissionfieldsuitabletoyourabilityandexperience。Ishallnotofferittoyou。IamofferingyouthepositionofchaplaininoneofourAlbertabattalions。\"
Barrystoodbeforehim，dumbwithdismay。
\"Ofcourse，Iwanttogotothewar，\"hesaidatlength，\"butIamsure，sir，Iamnotthemanforthepositionyouofferme。\"
\"Sir，\"saidthesuperintendent，\"Ihavetakenthelibertyofsendinginyourname。Timewasanelement。Appointmentswerebeingrapidlymade，andIwasextremelyanxiousthatyoushouldgowiththisbattalion。Iconfesstoaselfishinterest。Myownboy，Duncan，hasenlistedinthatunit，andmanyofourfinestyoungmenwithhim。Iassumedtheresponsibilityofaskingforyourappointment。Imusturgeyousolemnlytoconsiderthematterbeforeyoudecline。\"
EloquentlyBarrypleadedhisunfitness，instancinghisfailureasapreacherinhislastfield。
\"Iamnotapreacher，\"heprotested。\"Iamnota’mixer。’Theyallsayso。Ishallbeimpossibleasachaplain。\"
\"Youngman，\"saidthesuperintendent，anoteofsternnessinhisvoice，\"youknownotwhattransformationsincharacterthiswarwillwork。WouldIweretwentyyearsyounger，\"headdedpassionately，\"twentyyearssounder。ThinkoftheopportunitytostandforGodamongyourmen，topointthemthewayofduty，andfitthemforit，tobringthemcomfort，whentheyneedcomfortsorely，tobringthempeace，whentheymostneedpeace。\"
Barrycameawayfromtheinterviewmoredisturbedthanhehadeverbeeninhislife。Afterhehadreturnedtohishotel，amessagefromhissuperintendentrecalledhim。
\"Ihaveabitofworktodo，\"hesaid，\"inwhichIneedyourhelp。
Iwishyoutojoinmeinavisitationofsomeofthemilitarycampsinthisdistrict。Westartthisevening。\"
Therewasnothingforitbuttoobeyhissuperintendent’sorders。
Thetwoweeks’experiencewithhischiefgaveBarryanewviewandanewestimateofthechaplain’swork。Ashecameintoclosertouchwithcamplifeanditsconditions，hebegantoseehowgreatwasthesoldier’sneedofsuchmoralandspiritualsupportasachaplainmightbeabletorender。Hewasexposedtosubtleandpowerfultemptations。Hewasdeprivedofthewontedrestraintsimposedbyconvention，byenvironment，byfamilyties。Thereactionsfromtheexhaustionofphysicaltraining，fromthemonotonousroutineofmilitarydiscipline，fromlonelinessandhomesicknessweresuchastocallforthatwarm，sympathetic，brotherlyaid，andfortheupliftingspiritualinspirationthatitisachaplain’sprivilegetooffer。Butinproportionastheservicetookonanoblerandloftieraspect，wasBarryconscioustoacorrespondingdegreeofhisownunfitnessforthework。
Whenhereturnedtothecity，hefoundnodefiniteinformationawaitinghiminregardtoaplaceintheambulancecorps。Hereturnedhomeinanunhappyanduncertainframeofmind。
Butunderthedriveofwar，eventsweremovingrapidlyinBarry’slife。Hearrivedlateintheafternoon，andproceedingtothemilitaryH。Q。，hefoundneitherhisfathernorCaptainNeilFraserintheoffice。
\"Goneoutfortheafternoon，sir，\"wasthewordfromtheorderlyincharge。
Wanderingaboutthevillage，hesawinafieldatitsoutskirts，asquadofrecruitsdoingmilitaryevolutionsandphysicaldrill。Ashedrewnearhewasarrestedbytheshort，snappytonesoftheN。C。O。incharge。
\"Thatchapknowshisjob，\"hesaidtohimself，\"andlookslikehisjob，too，\"headded，ashiseyesrestedupontheneat，upright，soldier—likefigure。
CaptainNeilhefoundobservingthedrillfromadistance。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofthat？\"hecalledouttoBarry，asthelattercamewithinhailingdistance。\"Whatdoyouthinkofmysergeant？\"
\"Fine，\"repliedBarry。\"Wheredidyougethim？\"
\"What？Lookathim！\"
\"Iam。Prettynattysergeanthemakes，too。\"
\"Let’sgooutthere，andI’llintroducehim。\"
Astheycrossedtheparadeground，thesergeantdroppedhismilitarytoneandproceededtoexplaininhisordinaryvoicesomedetailsinconnectionwiththedrill。Barry，catchingthesoundofhisvoice，stoppedshort。
\"Youdon’tmeanit，CaptainNeil！Notdad，isit？\"
\"Nobodyelse，\"saidCaptainNeil。\"Waitaminute。Waitandlet’swatchhimathiswork。\"
Forsometimetheystoodobservingtheworkofthenewsergeant。
Barrywasfilledwithamazementanddelight。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofhim？\"inquiredCaptainNeil。
ButBarrymadenoreply。
\"Mycompanysergeantmajorgotdrunk，\"continuedCaptainNeil。\"I
hadnoonetotakethedrill。Iaskedyourfathertotakeit。Henearlysweptusoffourfeet。Inconsequence，therehestands，mycompanysergeantmajor，andletmetellyou，hewillbetheregimentalsergeantmajorbeforemanyweekshavepassed，orI’maGerman。\"
\"Buthisage，\"inquiredBarry，stillinamazeofastonishment。
\"Oh，that’sallright。Youdon’twantthemtooyoung。Iassuredtheauthoritiesthathewasofpropermilitaryage，tellingthem，atthesametime，thatImusthavehim。He’sawonder，andthemenjustadorehim。\"
\"Idon’twonderatthat，\"saidBarry。
Togethertheymovedovertothesquad。Thesergeant，observinghisofficer，calledhismensmartlytoattention，andgreetedthecaptainwithaverysnappysalute。