Dick joined in the general conversation.

Presently Cartwright tried to, but the officers to whom he addressed his remarks replied either so briefly or so coolly that the captain realized that he was not popular at the present time.
"Holmes will make trouble for any one who doesn't toady to him," thought Captain Cartwright moodily.

"I can see that I've got to make it my business to take the conceit and arrogance out of him." At almost the same moment, over in a company barracks, Sergeant Mock, as he chewed his food gloomily, was reflecting: "So Captain Holmes will call me down before a lot of officers, will he?
He'll order me to show more 'pep,' will he, the slave-driver?
And if I don't he'll break me, eh ?" "Breaking" a non-commissioned officer is securing his reduction to the grade of private.
"The captain is so lazy himself that he doesn't know a good man when he sees one," Mock told himself angrily.
Then he added, threateningly to himself: "He'd better not try it.

If he does, he'll sure wish he hadn't.
Since this war began even the officers are only on probation, and I've brains enough to find a way to put him in bad with the regimental K.O." "What's the matter, Mock, don't you like your food ?" asked the sergeant seated at his left.

"You're scowling something fierce." "It isn't the chow," Sergeant Mock retorted gruffly.
"Must be the heat, then---or a call-down," observed his brother sergeant.
"Never you mind!" retorted Mock.