g out of the window, just as a howl
floated upward.

"Hey, you idiot!" followed the howl, and the young corporal saw Hinkey,
a new recruit in the regiment and company, take off his hat and rub a
rising lump on the top of his head.

"Look out below, there!" called Corporal Hal.

"What else are you going to throw out at me?" glared Private Hinkey.

For answer, Corporal Hal sprang over the window sill, landing lightly on
the ground below.

"Hinkey, I'm mighty sorry," began Overton. "It was an accident, and----"

"An accident?" flared Hinkey sulkily. "I suppose you expect me to
believe that you slammed that flagstaff down and hit me on the top of
the head, and that it was all an accident?"

"I certainly do expect you to believe it," replied Corporal Hal, his
face flushing.

"Well, I don't," came the ugly response, accompanied by another scowl.
"It's a lie, and----"

"Be careful, Hinkey!" warned Corporal Overton, his fine young face
paling slightly. "Passing the lie, you know, don't go in the Army!"

"I don't care a hang what goes in the Army," snarled the private, who
was a man some twenty-eight years of age, dark of complexion and
forbidding of feature. "You've had it in for me all along, Corporal
Overton. Only yesterday morning you scorched me at drill."

"You needed it," was the quiet reply. "And I used no abusive language."

"Good thing you didn't," flashed Hinkey. "And the day before----"

"Stop your whining and let me look at your head," advised Corporal
Overton. "Whew, what a bump! Hinkey, I'm truly sor----"

"Get away from me, and never mind my head," snapped the other.

"But man, the flesh is cut, and the bump is already the size of a hen's
egg, and growing. You must have that attended to at hospital."

"I'll do what I please about that," retorted Hinkey.

"No; you'll do as you're told. You will report to First Sergeant Gray at
once, and ask his permission to report at hospital without delay."

"Perhaps you think I will," came the disagreeable retort.

"I know you will," said Corporal Overton more sternly, "for it's a
military order and you have no choice but to obey. And, if you think I
did that purposely----"

"I don't think, Overton. I know you did."

"Then I'll post you as to your rights in the matter, Private Hinkey.
When you report to Sergeant Gray for hospital permission, which you
will do at once, you can also state that you believe I assaulted you
purposely. Then Sergeant Gray will