ned up Colonel Embury read out the rule forbidding us to
break ranks--we were wondering how many days C. B. we would get--when
the O. C. looked around with a smile and said, "Well, boys, I'll let
you off this time, I didn't feel much like walking myself." One of the
boys dug me in the ribs and whispered, "Some scout, eh?" It was little
things like this that won the hearts of "his boys," as he always called
us, and so far from spoiling discipline it made us put up with any
discomforts for the sake of pleasing him.

But before going any farther I wish to explain what C. B. means. It is
the favourite mode of punishment in the Army and is served out for
almost all offences or "crimes," as they are called--the only variation
being in the length of time given. "C. B." is "confined to barracks"
and having to answer a bugle call every half-hour, after the battalion
is dismissed. The object of answering this bugle call is to let the
powers that be know that you are still there. In the Army it is known
as "Defaulters," but we named it the "Angel Call." There was usually
one or more of our little circle answering it, and the favourite crimes
were smoking on parade, staying out without a pass, coming home
"oiled," and staying in bed after reveille in the morning; the
last-named was a favourite one of mine, and I escaped punishment for
quite a while, but the old saying "The pitcher that goes oft to the
well is sure to get broken at last" was true in my case. I had formed
the habit of lying in bed and reading the paper for about half an hour
after reveille, and it always made the Sergeant mad. However, so far
he had not reported me; but this morning, after about twenty-five
minutes of stolen comfort, the Sergeant said, "Now, look here, O'Brien,
if you are not out of bed in three minutes I'll have you up before the
Major." I looked, listened, and pulling out my watch continued
reading. Exactly on the three minutes I jumped out, but the boys were
all laughing and the Sergeant got mad and had me "pinched"; so at 9
a.m. I was brought up on the "carpet" before the Major. I was looking
the picture of innocence, and I had a chum outside to prove that I was
out of bed three minutes after the Sergeant's warning. Well, the
Sergeant didn't press the charge very much, and the Major asked me how
long it was after reveille when I got up. I said it was five minutes
anyway, and I had them arguing whether it was five or ten minutes (it