第7章

WiththemstoodMcCuaig。Hisblanketrollcontaininghisgrub，withfrying—panandtea—pailattached，layathisfeet；hisriflebesideit。

Foramomentortwohestoodlookingbackupthestreambywhich，lastnight，hehadcome。Thenhebegantyinghispaddlestothecanoethwartsinpreparationforpackingitacrosstheportage。

Ashewastyingonthesecondpaddle，Duff’seyefellonhim。

"What’sup，McCuaig？"hesaid。"Aren’tyougoinguptothePost？"

"No，IguessIain’tgoin’upnomore，"repliedMcCuaigslowly。

"Whatdoyoumean？Youaren’tgoingbackhome？"

"No。Myoldshackwilldowithoutmeforawhile，Iguess。——Say，"

hecontinued，facingarounduponDuffandlookinghimsquarelyintheface，"thisyoungchapsays"——puttinghishanduponBarry’sshoulder——"BritainisgoingtohaveahellofatimelickingGermanybackintoherownorbut。ThempaperssaidlastnightthatCanadawasgoinginstrong。Doyouthinkshecoulduseafellowlikeme？"

Asilencefelluponthegroupofmen。

"What！Doyoumeanit，McCuaig？"saidDuffatlength。

Themanturnedhisthin，eaglefacetowardthespeaker，alightinhiseyes。

"Why，ain’tyougoin’？Ain’teveryonegoin’thatcan？Ifafellowstoodononesidewhilehiscountrywasfightin’，wherewouldhelivewhenit’sallover？HereadoutofthepapersthatthemGermanswereshootin’womenandchildren。So——"hisfacebegantowork，"amIgoin’tostandbyandasksomeoneelsetomake’emquit？No，byGod！"

Themenstoodwatchinghisface，curiouslytwistedandquivering。

ThenwithoutawordDuffseizedhispack，andswungintothetrail，everymanfollowinghiminhisorder。Withoutpausing，exceptforabriefhalfhouratnoon，andanotherlaterinthedayforeating，theypressedthetrail，runningwhatrapidstheycouldandportagingtheothers，untilintheearlyeveningtheysaw，faraway，adirtyblurontheskyline。

"Hurrah！"yelledFielding。"Goodoldfirebus，waitingforus。"

"Somebodyrunaheadandholdher，"saidDuff。

Barryflunghispackdownandstartedaway。

"Comebackhere，Barry，"criedKnight。"You’renotfit。You’reallin。"

"That’sright，too，"saidMcCuaig。"IguessI’llgo。"

Andoffhesetwiththelong，shuffling，tirelesstrotwithwhich，forahundredyears，the"runnersofthewoods"havepackedtheirloadsandtrackedtheirgameinthewildsofnorthwesternCanada。

CHAPTERVII

BARRICADESANDBAYONETS

ThecityofEdmontonwasinanuproar，itsstreetsthrongedwithexcitedmen，ranchersandcowboysfromtheranches，lumberjacksfromthefoothillcamps，menfromthemines，trapperswithlean，hardfaces，inweirdgarb，fromthenorth。

Thenewsfromthefrontwasominous。Belgiumwasasmokingwaste。

Herskieswereblackwiththeburningofhertowns，villagesandhomesteads，hersoilredwiththebloodofheroldmen，herwomenandchildren。TheFrencharmies，drivenbackinroutfromtheBelgianfrontier，werebeingpoundedtodeathbytheGermanhordes。

FortresseshithertoconsideredimpregnableweretumblinglikeninepinsbeforetheterriblesmashingofAustrianandGermansixteen—inchguns。AlreadyvonKluckwithhisfourhundredthousandofconqueringwarriorswasatthegatesofParis。

Mostominousofall，theBritisharmy，thatgallant，littlesacrificialarmy，ofascantseventy—fivethousandmen，holdinglikeabulldogtotheflankofvonBulow’smightyarmy，fiftytimesasstrong，threatenedbyvonKluckontheleftflankandbyvonHousenontheright，wasslowingdowntheGermanadvance，butwasitselfbeingslowlygroundintothebloodydustofthenorthernandeasternroadsofNorthernandEasternFrance。

BlackdaysthesewereforthemenofBritishblood。Wastheworldtoseesomethingnewinwar？WereGermanstoovercomemenoftheraceofNelson，andWellingtonandColinCampbell？

Athome，hundredsofthousandswerebatteringattherecruitingoffices。IntheDominionsoftheEmpireoverseasitwasthesame。

InCanadaahundredthousandmenweredemandingaplaceinthefirstCanadiancontingentofthirty—fivethousand，nowalmostreadytosail。GeneralSamatOttawawasbeingsnowedunderbyentreating，insistent，cajoling，threateningtelegrams。AlreadynorthernAlbertahadsenttwothousandmen。TherumourinEdmontonranthattherewereonlyafewplaceslefttobefilledinthenorthAlbertaquota。Forthesefewplaceshundredsofmenwerefightinginthestreets。

Alightingfromtheirtrain，Duffandhismenstoodamazed，aghast，gazinguponthescenebeforethem。Duffclimbedawagonwheelandsurveyedthecrowdpackingthestreetinfrontofthebulletinboards。

"Nouse，thisway，boys。We’llhavetogoaround。Comeon。"

Theywenton。Upsidestreetsandlanes，throughbackyardsandshopstheywentuntilatlengththeyemergedwithinahundredyardsoftherecruitingoffice。

Duffcalledhismenabouthim。

"Boys，we’llhavetobluffthem，"hesaid。"You’reapartyofrecruitsthatCol。Kavanaghexpects。You’vebeensentfor。I’mbringingyouinunderorders。Lookasmuchlikesoldiersasyoucan，andboreinlikehell。Comeon！"

Theybegantobore。Atoncetherewasanuproar，punctuatedwithvociferousandvariedprofanity。

Duffprovedhimselfaneffectiveleader。

"Here，letmepass，"heshoutedintothebacksofmen’sheads。

"I’mondutyhere。ImustgetthroughtoColonelKavanagh。Keepupthere，men；keepyourline！Standback，please！Makeway！"

Hishugebulk，distortedfaceandhisloudandauthoritativevoicestartledmenintotemporarysubmission，andbeforetheycouldrecoverthemselvesheandhislittlecompanyofhard—boringmenwerethrough。

Twenty—fiveyardsfromtherecruitingofficeasiderushofthecrowdcaughtthem。

"They’vesmashedthebarricades，"aboyfromatelegraphpolecalledout。

Duffandhismenfoughttoholdtheirplaces，buttheybecameconsciousofasteadypressurebackwards。

"What’sdoingnow，boy？"shoutedDufftotheurchinclingingtothetelegraphpole。

"Thefusileers——theyarestickingtheirbayonetsintothem。"

Beforethelineofbayonetsthecrowdretreatedslowly，butDuffandhiscompanyheldtheirground，allowingthecrowdtoebbpastthem，untiltheyfoundthemselvesagainstthelineofbayonets。

"Letmethroughhere，sergeant，withmyparty，"saidDuff。"I’munderordersofColonelKavanagh。"

Thesergeant，anoldBritisharmyman，lookedthemover。

"Haveyouanorder，sir——awrittenorder，Imean？"

"No，"saidDuff。"Ihaven’t，butthecolonelexpectsus。Heiswaitingformenow。"

"Sorry，sir，"repliedthesergeant，"myordersaretoletnoonethroughwithoutawrittenpass。"

Duffargued，stormed，threatened，swore；buttonopurpose。TheN。C。O。knewhisjob。

"Sendanotein，"suggestedBarryinDuff’sear。

"Goodidea，"repliedDuff，andwrotehurriedly。

"Here，takethisthroughtoyourcolonel，"hesaid，passingthenotetothesergeant。

AlmostimmediatelyColonelKavanaghcameoutandgreetedDuffwarmly。

"Whereinthiswidecreationhaveyoubeen，Duff？"heexclaimed。

"I’vewantedyouterribly。"

"HereIamnow，then，"answeredDuff。"Sixofus。We’regoingwithyou。"

"Itcan’tbedone，"saidthecolonel。"Ihaveonlytwentyplacesleft；everyonepromisedtentimesover。"

"Thatmakesiteasy，Kavanagh。Youcangivesixofthemtous。"

"Duff，itsimplycan’tbedone。YouknowI’dgiveittoyouifI

could。I’vewiresfromOttawabackingupahundredapplicants，actuallyorderingmetoputthemon。No！It’snouse，"continuedthecolonel，holdinguphishand。"Lookhere，I’llgiveyouapointer。Wehavegotwordto—daythatthere’stobeasecondcontingent。NeilFraserisoutthereinyourdistrict，Wapiti，raisingacompanyoftwohundredandfiftymen。Wehavestrippedthatcountrybarealready，sohe’supagainstit。HewantsWapitimen，hesays。Theyarenobetterthananyother，buthethinkstheyare。Yougetoutthereto—night，Duff，andgetinonthatthing。Youwillgetacommission，too。Nowhike！Hike！Go！

HonesttoGod，Duff，Iwantyouwithmybattalion，andifIcanworkitafterwards，I’llgetyouexchanged，butyouronlychancenowisWapiti。Go，forGod’ssake，goquick！"

"Whatdoyousay，boys？"askedDuff，wheelinguponhismen。

"Isay，go！"saidKnight。

Inthisdecisiontheyallagreed。

"Goitis，"saidDuff。"Rightaboutturn。Goodluck，Kavanagh，damnyou。Iseeyouhavegotagoodsergeantthere。"

"Who？McDowell？Nonebetter。Youcouldn’tbeathim，eh？"saidthecolonelwithagrin。

Thesergeantstoodatattention，withawoodenface。

"He’sthekindofmantheywantinthefrontlines，"saidDuff。

"Thedevilhimselfcouldn’tbreakthroughwhereheis。"

"That’swhyIhavehim。Goodluck。Good—bye！"

Throughoutthenighttheymarched，nowandthenreceivingaliftfromaranchwagon，andinthegreyofthemorning，weary，hungry，butresoluteforaplaceintheWapiticompany，theymadethevillage。

Earlyasitwas，Barryfoundhisfatherastir，withbreakfastinreadiness。

"Hello，boy！"criedhisfatherrunningtohimwithoutstretchedhands。

"Hello，dad！"answeredBarry。Hisfatherthrewasearchingglanceoverhisson’sfaceasheshookhishandwarmly。

"Notaword，Barry，untilyoueat。Notaword。Gogetreadyforyourbath。I’llhaveitforyouinaminute。No，notoneword。

Quick。March。Thatistheonlywordthesedays。AsyoueatI’llgiveyouthenews。"

Resolutelyherefusedtotalkuntilhesawhissonbeginuponhisbreakfast。Thenhepouredforthastreamofnews。Thewholecountrywasaflamewithwarenthusiasm。Albertahadofferedhalfamillionbushelsofoatsfortheimperialarmy，andathousandhorsesormore。TheCalgarydistricthadrecruitedtwothousandmen，theEdmontondistrictasmanymore。AlloverCanada，fromVancouvertoHalifax，itwasthesame。

FromtheWapitidistricttwenty—sixranchers，furnishingtheirownhorses，hadalreadygone。EwenInneswasinEdmonton。HisbrotherMalcolmwasinuniform，too，andhisyoungbrotherJimwaskeentoenlist。NeilFraserwasbusyraisingacompanyofWapitimen。

YoungPicklesandMcCannhadjoinedupasbuglers。

Andsothestreamflowed，Barrylisteningwithgravefacebutmakingnoresponse。

"AndI’mgladyou’reback，myboy。I’mgladyou’reback，"saidhisfather，clappinghimontheshoulder。

Therestofthemealwaseateninsilence。Theywerehavingeachhisownthoughts，andforthefirsttimeintheirlifetogether，theykepttheirthoughtstothemselves。

"You’regoingtoyouroffice，Dad，"saidBarry，whentheyhadclearedaway，andsetthehouseinorder。

"No，theofficeisclosed，andwillbeforsometime，Iimagine。

I’mbusywithNeilFraser。I’mactingpaymaster，quartermaster，recruitingsergeant，andhalfadozenotherthings。"

"I’llgodownwithyou，"saidBarry，ashisfatherrosetogo。

Hisfathercamebacktohim，puthishandsonhisshoulders，andsaid：

"Barry，Iwantyoutogotobed。"

"Nonsense，dad。I’mallright。I’mgoingdowntownwithyou。"

"Barry，"saidhisfather，"wehavehardtimesbeforeus，andyoumustbefit。Iaskyoutogotobedandsleeptherethisforenoon。

You’rehalfasleepnow。Thisafternoonweshallfaceuptoourjob。"

Hisfather’svoicewasquietlyauthoritativeandBarryyielded。

"Allright，dad。I’lldoasyousay，andthisafternoon——well，we’llsee。"

Atthenoondaymealtheywereconsciousofamutualrestraint。Forthefirsttimeintheirlivestheywerenotopeningtoeachothertheirinnermostsouls。Theexperiencewasasdistressingasitwasunusual。Thefather，asifindreadofsilence，wasobviouslyexertinghimselftokeepastreamoftalkflowing。Barrywaslisteningwithafaceverygraveandveryunlikethebrightandbuoyantfaceheusuallycarried。Theyavoidedeachother’seyes，andpaidlittleheedtotheirfood。

AtlengthBarrypushedbackhischair。

"Willyouexcuseme，dad，"hesaid。"IthinkIshallstepoutamomentintothegarden。"

"Do，Barry，"saidhisfather，inobviousrelief。"Youarefaggedout，myboy。"

"Thanks，dad。Iamabitplayedout。"

"Andtakeiteasythisafternoon，Barry。To—nightyouwilltellmeaboutyourtrip，and——and——we’llhaveatalk。"

"Goodolddad！"saidBarry。"Youdounderstandachap。Seeyoulater，then，"hecalledbackashepassedthroughthedoor。

Hisfathersatgazingbeforehimforsomemomentswithadeepshadowonhisface。

"Thereissomethingwrongwiththatboy，"hesaidtohimself。"I

wishIknewwhatitwas。"

Hesethishouseinorder，movingheavilyasifasuddenweightofyearshadfallenuponhisshoulders，andtookhiswayslowlydownthestreet。

"Iwonderwhatitis，"hemused，refusingtogiveformtoahorriblethoughtthathoveredlikeaspectreaboutthewindowsofhissoul。

Thefirstglanceathisson’sfaceatthetimeoftheeveningmealmadehisheartsingwithinhim。

"He’sallrightagain！He’sallright！"hesaidtohimselfjubilantly。

"Hello，dad，"criedBarry，ashisfatherenteredtheroom。

"Supper’sjustready。Howdoyoufeel，eh？"

"Better，myboy——firstrate，Imean。I’mproperlyhungry。You’rerested，Icansee。"

"I’mallright，dad！I’mallright！"criedBarry，inhisoldcheeryway。"Dad，Iwanttoapologisetoyou。Iwasn’tmyselfto—

day，butnowI’mallrightagain。Dad，I’vejoinedup。I’masoldiernow，"hesaidwithasmileonhisface，butwithanxiouseyesturnedonhisfather。

"Joinedup！"echoedhisfather。"Barry，youhaveenlisted！ThankGod，myboy。Ifeared——Ithought——No，damnedifIdid！"headded，withsuchanunusualburstofpassionthatBarrycouldonlygazeathimwithastonishment。

"Forgiveme，myboy，"hesaid，comingforwardwithoutstretchedhand。"ForamomentIconfessIthought——"Againhepaused，apparentlyunabletocontinue。

"Youthought，dad，"criedBarry，"and——forgiveme，dad——Ithoughttoo。Ioughttohaveknownyoubetter。"

"AndI，you，myson。"

Theyshookhandswitheachotherinanecstasyofjubilation。

"MyGod，I’mgladthat’sthrough，"saidtheolderman。"Wewerebothfools，Barry，butthankGodthathorrorispast。Nowtellmeallabouteverything——yourtrip，yourplans。Let’shaveagoodtalkaswealwaysdo。"

"Comeonthen，dad，"criedBarry。"Let’shaveaneatfirst。ByJove，Ifeelathousandyearsyounger。IgototheM。O。to—morrowforanexamination。"

"Heisquiteunusuallysevereinhisinterpretationoftheregulations，Iunderstand，"saidhisfather。"Heisturningmendownrightandleft。Heknows，ofcourse，thatthereareplentytochoosefrom。Butthereisnofearofyourfitness，Barry。"

"Notmuch，"saidBarry，withagaylaugh。

Neverhadtheyspentahappiereveningtogether。True，thespectreofwarwouldthrustitselfuponthem，buttheyfaceditasmen——

withafullappreciationofitssolemnreality，butwithoutfear，andwithaquietdeterminationtomakewhateversacrificemightbedemandedofthem。Theperfectunderstandingthathadalwaysmarkedtheirintercoursewitheachotherwasrestored。Theintolerableburdenofmutualuncertaintyinregardtoeachother’sattitudetowardthewarwaslifted。Allshadowsthatlaybetweenthemweregone。Nothingelsereallymattered。

Thedayfollowing，Barryreceivedarudeshock。TheM。O。，afteranexamination，tohisamazementanddismay，pronouncedhimphysicallyunfitforservice。

"Andwhy，pray？"criedhisfatherindignantly，whenBarryannouncedtheastoundingreport。"Isthemanafool？Iunderstoodthathewasstrict。Butyou！unfit！Itispreposterous。Unfit！how？"

"Heartmurmur，"saidBarry。"Setsitdowntoasthma。YourememberItoldyouIhadarottenattackaftermyexperiencelastweekintheriver。HesuggestedthatIapplyforapositioninanambulancecorps，andheisgivingmealettertoColonelSidleighatEdmonton。Iamgoingto—morrowtoEdmontontoseeSidleigh，andbesidesIhavesomechurchbusinesstoattendto。Imustcalluponmysuperintendent。YourememberImadeanapplicationtohimforanothermissionfield。"

HefoundColonelSidleighcourteouslywillingtoaccepthisapplication，theanswertowhich，hewasinformed，hemightexpectinafortnight；andsowentwithacomparativelylighthearttohisinterviewwithhissuperintendent。

Theinterview，however，turnedoutnotentirelyashehadexpected。

Hewentwithanideaofsurrenderinghisappointment。Hissuperintendentmadehimanofferofanotherandgreater。

"Sotheyturnedyoudown，"saidthesuperintendent。"Well，I

consideritmostprovidential。Youhaveappliedforapositionontheambulancecorps。Asfineasisthatservice，andassplendidasareitspossibilities，Iofferyousomethingmuchfiner，andI

willevensaymuchmoreimportanttoourarmyandtoourcause。WeareinneedofmenfortheChaplainService，andforthisservicewedemandthepickedmenofourchurch。Theappointmentsthathavebeenmadealreadyaresomeofthemmostunsuitable，some，Iregrettosay，scandalous。Letmetellyou，sir，ofanexperienceinWinnipegonlylastweek。Itwas，myfortunetofallinwiththecommandingofficerofaSaskatchewanunit。Ifoundhiminarageagainstthechurchandallitsofficials。Hischaplainhadbecomesohilariousatthemessthathewasquiteunabletocarryon。"

"Hilarious？"inquiredBarry。

"Hilarious，sir。Yes，plaindrunk。Thinkofit。Thinkofthecrime！theshameofit！Amanchargedwiththeresponsibilityofthesoulsofthesemengoingtowar——possiblytotheirdeath——

drunk，intheirpresence！AmanstandingforGodandthegreateternalverities，incapacitatedbeforethem！ItookthematterupwithOttawa，andIhavethissatisfactionatleast，thatIbelievethatnosuchappointmentwilleverbemadeagain。Thatchaplain，I

maysaytoo，hasbeendismissed。Ihavehere，sir，amissionfieldsuitabletoyourabilityandexperience。Ishallnotofferittoyou。IamofferingyouthepositionofchaplaininoneofourAlbertabattalions。"

Barrystoodbeforehim，dumbwithdismay。

"Ofcourse，Iwanttogotothewar，"hesaidatlength，"butIamsure，sir，Iamnotthemanforthepositionyouofferme。"

"Sir，"saidthesuperintendent，"Ihavetakenthelibertyofsendinginyourname。Timewasanelement。Appointmentswerebeingrapidlymade，andIwasextremelyanxiousthatyoushouldgowiththisbattalion。Iconfesstoaselfishinterest。Myownboy，Duncan，hasenlistedinthatunit，andmanyofourfinestyoungmenwithhim。Iassumedtheresponsibilityofaskingforyourappointment。Imusturgeyousolemnlytoconsiderthematterbeforeyoudecline。"

EloquentlyBarrypleadedhisunfitness，instancinghisfailureasapreacherinhislastfield。

"Iamnotapreacher，"heprotested。"Iamnota’mixer。’Theyallsayso。Ishallbeimpossibleasachaplain。"

"Youngman，"saidthesuperintendent，anoteofsternnessinhisvoice，"youknownotwhattransformationsincharacterthiswarwillwork。WouldIweretwentyyearsyounger，"headdedpassionately，"twentyyearssounder。ThinkoftheopportunitytostandforGodamongyourmen，topointthemthewayofduty，andfitthemforit，tobringthemcomfort，whentheyneedcomfortsorely，tobringthempeace，whentheymostneedpeace。"

Barrycameawayfromtheinterviewmoredisturbedthanhehadeverbeeninhislife。Afterhehadreturnedtohishotel，amessagefromhissuperintendentrecalledhim。

"Ihaveabitofworktodo，"hesaid，"inwhichIneedyourhelp。

Iwishyoutojoinmeinavisitationofsomeofthemilitarycampsinthisdistrict。Westartthisevening。"

Therewasnothingforitbuttoobeyhissuperintendent’sorders。

Thetwoweeks’experiencewithhischiefgaveBarryanewviewandanewestimateofthechaplain’swork。Ashecameintoclosertouchwithcamplifeanditsconditions，hebegantoseehowgreatwasthesoldier’sneedofsuchmoralandspiritualsupportasachaplainmightbeabletorender。Hewasexposedtosubtleandpowerfultemptations。Hewasdeprivedofthewontedrestraintsimposedbyconvention，byenvironment，byfamilyties。Thereactionsfromtheexhaustionofphysicaltraining，fromthemonotonousroutineofmilitarydiscipline，fromlonelinessandhomesicknessweresuchastocallforthatwarm，sympathetic，brotherlyaid，andfortheupliftingspiritualinspirationthatitisachaplain’sprivilegetooffer。Butinproportionastheservicetookonanoblerandloftieraspect，wasBarryconscioustoacorrespondingdegreeofhisownunfitnessforthework。

Whenhereturnedtothecity，hefoundnodefiniteinformationawaitinghiminregardtoaplaceintheambulancecorps。Hereturnedhomeinanunhappyanduncertainframeofmind。

Butunderthedriveofwar，eventsweremovingrapidlyinBarry’slife。Hearrivedlateintheafternoon，andproceedingtothemilitaryH。Q。，hefoundneitherhisfathernorCaptainNeilFraserintheoffice。

"Goneoutfortheafternoon，sir，"wasthewordfromtheorderlyincharge。

Wanderingaboutthevillage，hesawinafieldatitsoutskirts，asquadofrecruitsdoingmilitaryevolutionsandphysicaldrill。Ashedrewnearhewasarrestedbytheshort，snappytonesoftheN。C。O。incharge。

"Thatchapknowshisjob，"hesaidtohimself，"andlookslikehisjob，too，"headded，ashiseyesrestedupontheneat，upright，soldier—likefigure。

CaptainNeilhefoundobservingthedrillfromadistance。

"Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"hecalledouttoBarry，asthelattercamewithinhailingdistance。"Whatdoyouthinkofmysergeant？"

"Fine，"repliedBarry。"Wheredidyougethim？"

"What？Lookathim！"

"Iam。Prettynattysergeanthemakes，too。"

"Let’sgooutthere，andI’llintroducehim。"

Astheycrossedtheparadeground，thesergeantdroppedhismilitarytoneandproceededtoexplaininhisordinaryvoicesomedetailsinconnectionwiththedrill。Barry，catchingthesoundofhisvoice，stoppedshort。

"Youdon’tmeanit，CaptainNeil！Notdad，isit？"

"Nobodyelse，"saidCaptainNeil。"Waitaminute。Waitandlet’swatchhimathiswork。"

Forsometimetheystoodobservingtheworkofthenewsergeant。

Barrywasfilledwithamazementanddelight。

"Whatdoyouthinkofhim？"inquiredCaptainNeil。

ButBarrymadenoreply。

"Mycompanysergeantmajorgotdrunk，"continuedCaptainNeil。"I

hadnoonetotakethedrill。Iaskedyourfathertotakeit。Henearlysweptusoffourfeet。Inconsequence，therehestands，mycompanysergeantmajor，andletmetellyou，hewillbetheregimentalsergeantmajorbeforemanyweekshavepassed，orI’maGerman。"

"Buthisage，"inquiredBarry，stillinamazeofastonishment。

"Oh，that’sallright。Youdon’twantthemtooyoung。Iassuredtheauthoritiesthathewasofpropermilitaryage，tellingthem，atthesametime，thatImusthavehim。He’sawonder，andthemenjustadorehim。"

"Idon’twonderatthat，"saidBarry。

Togethertheymovedovertothesquad。Thesergeant，observinghisofficer，calledhismensmartlytoattention，andgreetedthecaptainwithaverysnappysalute。