Part 3 (1/2)
”I'm afraid,” he said, ”that no one will know that I've been hazed.”
He was silent for a few minutes. Then a smile came over his face.
”Wasn't it grand,” he went on, ”to think that we were following in the steps of all the great generals of the century! When I put my head into the tub and felt my legs waving in the air, I thought of General Meriden striking his head so manfully against the bottom, and I thanked heaven that I was suffering for my country. I tried to b.u.mp my head hard too, and it does ache just a little; but I'm afraid it won't show.”
He felt his head with his hand and looked inquiringly at Cleary, but his friend's face gave him no encouragement, and he made no answer.
”I think I saw somebody taking a snap-shot of me up there,” said Sam.
”Do you think I can get a print of it? I wish you'd see if you can get one for me.”
”It's not so easy,” said Cleary. ”He was a third-cla.s.s man, and of course we are not allowed to speak to him. They've just divided us fourth-cla.s.s men up among the rest to do ch.o.r.es for them. My boss is Captain Clark, and he's the only upper-cla.s.s man I can speak to, and he would knock me down if I asked him about it. You'd better try yourself when you come out.”
”Who am I a.s.signed to?” asked Sam.
”To Cadet Smith, and he's a much easier man. You're in luck. But my time's up. Good-by,” and Cleary hurried away.
Sam Jinks left the hospital just one week after his admission. He might have stayed a day or two longer, but he insisted that he was well enough and prevailed upon the doctor to let him go. He set to work at once with great energy to make up for lost time and to learn all that had been taught in the week in the way of drilling. The morning after his release, when guard-mounting was over, Cleary told him that Cadet Smith wished to speak to him, and Sam went at once to report to him.
”Jinks,” said Smith, when Sam had approached and saluted, ”I am going down that path there to the right. Wait till I am out of sight and then follow me down. I don't want any one to see us together.”
”All right, sir,” said Sam.
When Smith had duly disappeared, Sam followed him and found him awaiting him in a secluded spot by the river. Sam saluted again as he came up to him.
”I suppose you understand, Jinks, that none of us upper-cla.s.s men can afford to be seen talking to you fourth-cla.s.s beasts?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Of course, it wouldn't do. Don't look at me that way, Jinks. When an upper-cla.s.s man is polite enough to speak to you, you should look down, and not into his face.”
Sam dropped his eyes.
”Now, Jinks, I wanted to tell you that you've been a.s.signed to me to do such work as I want done. I'm going to treat you well, because you seem to be a pretty decent fellow for a beast.”
”Thank you, sir,” said Sam.
”Yes, you seem disposed to behave as you should, and I don't want to have any trouble with you. All you'll have to do is to see that my boots are blacked every night, keep my s.h.i.+rts and clothes in order, take my things to the wash, clean out my tent, and be somewhere near so that you can come when I call you; do you understand?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Oh, then, of course, you must make my bed, and bring water for me, and keep my equipments clean. If there's anything else, I'll tell you. If you don't do everything I tell you, I'll report it to the cla.s.s committee and you'll have to fight, do you understand?”
”Yes, sir.”
”That will do, Jinks; you may go.”
”I beg your pardon, sir. May I ask you a question?”
”What?” shouted Smith. ”Do you mean to speak to me without being spoken to?”