briskly over to A Company, which rested in ranks
in platoon front. Drawing his sword, he commanded:

"Attention!"

Thereupon he put the company through half a dozen movements of the
manual of arms, next marching the company away in column of fours. The
regulars, of course, responded like clockwork. They made a fine
appearance as they started off under their freakish second lieutenant.
Ere they had gone far Ferrers swung them into column of twos at the
route step.

"He's doing that almost well," muttered Captain Ruggles under his
breath. "I believe the young cub is trying to be a soldier, after all."

It still lacked much of two in the afternoon when Captain Ruggles,
leaving his quarters, saw his company marching back.

"Gracious! How did the youngster ever get the men over the ground in
this time?" wondered Captain Ruggles, glancing at his watch. "And he
hasn't used the company up, either. The men move as actively as though
they had just come from bed and a bath."

Captain Ruggles walked rapidly over toward barracks. Lieutenant Ferrers
threw his company into column of platoons, faced them about and brought
the men to a halt. Then he wheeled about, saluting Captain Ruggles.

"Any further orders, sir?" inquired Algy.

"No, Lieutenant. Dismiss the company."

As soon as the men had started barrackwards, Captain Ruggles asked the
lieutenant:

"How did you manage it, Ferrers, to bring the men back in such fine
condition and so early in the day?"

"Just a matter of good judgment, Captain," beamed Algy.

"What do you mean?"

"I changed the orders a bit, sir, to meet the conditions that I
discovered."

"Conditions?"

"Yes, Captain. The day proved to be extremely warm. I marched the men
for about six miles; it may have been nearer seven. Curiously enough,
Sergeant Reed and I disagreed on that point. He said we had gone about a
mile and a half."

"Well? What next?"

"Why, sir, I found it so warm that I couldn't march with any comfort at
all. Now, I don't believe an officer should expect his men to go where
he isn't willing to go himself, and as for myself I didn't want to go
any further. So I halted the company and----"

"And----"

"Why, Captain," smiled Lieutenant Ferrers, "I just let the men enjoy
themselves under the trees until it was time to have their dinner on the
field rations they'd taken along."

"And then?"

"Why, then, sir, I marched them back here. I'll take them out again
some day when t