ing a regular
is good enough for me. I am ready to answer any further questions."

But just at that moment a bugle sounded the call to drill.

"You've answered enough questions for the present, rook," replied
Private Hyman, patting Overton on the shoulder as he went by. Hooper
struggled into his blouse, then went over to a sink and washed the red
from his nose before hurrying out with the others. The big private
didn't even look at Hal Overton as he went by.

Being excused from duty for the day, Hal went in search of Noll Terry.
He found him waiting outside of barracks.

"Whew, but I've been through a mill," sighed Noll.

"I've been ground just a bit myself," laughed Hal.

"Did the fellows twit you about last night's work?" asked Noll
curiously.

"Well, some," admitted Hal.

"If there's anything left that the fellows in the squad room can think
of to do to me, I'm wondering what it is," grunted Private Terry.

"Oh, they'll think up enough things," Hal declared. "We needn't imagine
that our mates will exhaust themselves in twenty minutes of fun. You
didn't lose your temper, did you, Noll?"

"No; and I don't want to. But there's one fellow in our room that I am
certain I'll have to fight before I get through."

"There's a fellow in our room that I don't believe I will have to
fight," chuckled Private Overton.

"Have you been in a fight already?" asked Noll, flashing a swift look at
his chum.

"Oh, no," Hal answered. "A dancing lesson was as far as I got this
morning. But come along, Noll. I want to get where we can get a look at
the great mountains yonder. My, how they seem to tower above the fort
and wall us in!"

Fort Clowdry was some fifty-two hundred feet above sea level. From
there, however, high mountains were visible that extended some thousands
of feet higher in the air. All about was a great view of rugged mountain
scenery.

Over past the buildings at the west end of the post the two rookies
wandered. Now they had a noble view of the mountains.

"Are you going off post this afternoon, as the colonel said we could?"
asked Noll, by and by.

"Not unless you very much want to, Noll. Can't we put in the time better
learning our way around the post?"

"Perhaps we can," assented Noll.

A soldier came along, driving a pair of mules to which a quarter
master's wagon was hitched. As he drew near, with a heavy load aboard,
he halted to rest the mules.

"Rooks, ain't ye?" questioned the soldier.