Part 16 (2/2)
”Halt!”
The petty officers in command ran their eyes over the line in some surprise. They did not understand what it meant. They knew, however, that something had gone wrong.
The executive officer was standing to the rear of the line, at some distance, while the battalion was going through its evolutions. His observant eyes had suddenly caught sight of something that filled him with amazement and indignation.
Quickly striding down to the line, the men facing away from him, he called the chief quartermaster to him.
”Take those men out of line.”
”Which ones, sir?”
The executive officer, pointed, and then the petty officer saw that which also amazed him. A moment more and he had tapped both Dan and Sam on the shoulder.
”Fall out!” he commanded.
They obeyed promptly, but wonderingly.
”Report to your quarters, and remain there in detention.”
The boys saluted and moved away.
”Now, will you tell me what this means?” demanded Dan.
”That's what I was trying to find out. We haven't done anything.”
They had reached their quarters when, all at once, Dan uttered an exclamation.
”What is it?” demanded Sam.
”Look at yourself.”
”What's wrong with me?” growled the freckle-faced boy.
”Take off your jacket and you'll see.”
”You had better take off your own while you are about it,” replied Sam, opening his eyes wide as he gazed at his companion.
With one accord they stripped off their jackets, uttering exclamations of anger as they did so.
The backs of the jackets were streaked with bright red until they resembled the bars of the American Flag, which they no doubt had been intended by the perpetrator of the outrage to represent.
Sam examined his jacket critically; then, glancing up, he met the eyes of his companion.
”Red ink,” nodded Sam. ”I'll bet the eagle will scream now.”
”Who could have done it?”
<script>