Army and Navy Weekly — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1072 that was to give lim a chance to explain the matter.’? ‘Ves, and I saw Bull with Mee a while ago,’’ added the other, shrewdly. ‘‘I shouldn’t wonder if Bull were getting up soine scheme. He hasn’t said much about Mallory to-day. He’s been very mysteri- ous.”’ The mystery, whatever it’ was, destined to was reinain unsolved, however, ior just then the rattle of a drum echoed. across the field, and the there sprang up hastily. ‘It’s dress parade,’’ said Murray. ‘Ves,”’ responded Vance, dryly. ‘‘And now you’ll have a chance to show off that beautifully cleaned gun of yours. Come on.” ~ CHAPTER AI, A SURPRISE FOR GUS MURRAY. Gus Murray went straight to his tent when the group broke up. He hastily dusted off his clothes and looked at him- self in the glass to make sure that noth- ing was out of place. Then he took up his gun from the rack and hurried out to Sigil in.” A moment later the order was given, ‘Tention company!’ and after roll call the battallion wheeled and marched out upon the parade ground. Tle ceremony of dress parade has been ’ described in these pages before. ‘The sol- ein cadet adjutant formed the parade and then turned it over to his superior. The gayly-dressed band imarched down the line and took its station. A few moments later the batallion was in the midst of its evolutions. It was not very long before they halted again, down toward the southern end of - the plain, to go through the manual of arms: It wasthen that Gus Murray re- ceived a shock. | The cadets had been marching with their guns ata ‘‘carry.’’ Gus had—held ‘his that way ever since he picked it up, and then suddenly the lieutenant in com- inand gave the order: ‘*Present—arims!”’ In a ‘‘carry’’ the soldier holds lis gun in the right hand, with thumb and first finger around the trigger guard. In coim- ing to present he swings it up in front of him and seizes the stock in the left hand, 'KRMY “AND NAVY at the saine time letting go with the right and reversing his grip. The cadet lines work like a_ perfect machine in that drill. Every gun swings up at the same instant, every hand moves in unison, so that the sound of the many motions is butone. ‘This time, however, there was a break, and the cause of it was our dear friend Gus. Gus got through the first part of the motion all right. On the second part he got ‘‘stuck’’ (in more senses than one). When he went to let go with his right ‘ hand—he couldn’t! At first he could hardly understand what was happening. He pulled and tugged with all his might. But it did no good; his hand was: fast. And in an in- stant the horrible truth flashed over him —Mallory—he had polished the gun with glue! Every spectator on the grounds was staring at Gus. As for him, he was still tugging and wrestling, blushing and gasping, with rage. Hjnaily, he saw that his efforts were useless and he gave it up in despair; he stood silent and helpless, gazing into space. Lieutenant Ross was the natne of tac in command, and he was noted for being _ acrank. He gave no iore orders, of course, but stood and stared at the offend- ing cadet in horror and indignation, while the cadets, who did not dare to look, but who knew that something ~ was ‘‘up,’? waited and wondered. How long this suspense and torture would last no one could tell; the tac broke in at last. ; ‘“*Mr. Murray,’’ he demanded. is the matter ?’’ “My gun!’’ stammered Murray. ‘‘I—I —why——that is——”’ ‘*Mr. Murray, leave the ranks!”’ Blushing scarlet, the yearling obeyed, conscious of the fact that hundreds of eyes were upon hin. He strode furiously down the line and once clear, set out on a run for camp, almost ready to cry with vexation. He reached his tent, rushed in, tore off his glove, and hurled his musket into the corner with a furious oath. And then he stood in the middle of his tent and clinched his fists until his nails cut the palms of his hands. ““By Heaven!’’ he cried, ‘‘T’ll be re- ‘What Lt Comichoo SCO)