登陆注册
4808500000051

第51章 THE FLAG OF THEIR COUNTRY.(4)

"Mustn't look through the key-hole," said the sentry.

"I like that. Why, Wake, you little beast, I made you a volunteer.""Can't help it. My orders are not to allow any one to look.""S'pose we do?" said McTurk. "S'pose we jolly well slay you?""My orders are, I am to give the name of anybody who interfered with me on my post, to the corps, an' they'd deal with him after drill, accordin' to martial law.""What a brute Stalky is!" said Beetle. They never doubted for a moment who had devised that scheme.

"You esteem yourself a giddy centurion, don't you?" said Beetle, listening to the crash and rattle of grounded arms within.

"My ordcrs are, not to talk except to explain my orders--they'll lick me if I do."McTurk looked at Beetle. The two shook their heads and turned away.

"I swear Stalky _is_ a great man," said Beetle after a long pause. "One consolation is that this sort of secret-society biznai will drive King wild."It troubled many more than King, but the members of the corps were muter than oysters. Foxy, being bound by no vow, carried his woes to Keyte.

"I never come across such nonsense in my life. They've tiled the lodge, inner and outer guard, all complete, and then they get to work, keen as mustard.""But what's it all for?" asked the ex-Troop Sergeant-Major.

"To learn their drill. You never saw anything like it. They begin after I've dismissed 'em--practisin' tricks; but out into the open they will _not_ come--not for ever so. The 'ole thing is pre-posterous. If you're a cadet-corps, _I_ say, be a cadet-corps, instead o' hidin' be'ind locked doors.""And what do the authorities say about it?"

"That beats me again." The Sergeant spoke fretfully. "I go to the 'Ead an' 'e gives me no help. There's times when I think he's makin' fun o' me. I've never been a Volunteer-sergeant, thank God--but I've always had the consideration to pity 'em.

I'm glad o' that."

"I'd like to see 'em," said Keyte. "From your statements, Sergeant, I can't get at what they're after.""Don't ask me, Major! Ask that freckle-faced young Corkran. He's their generalissimo."One does not refuse a warrior of Sobraon, or deny the only pastry-cook within bounds. So Keyte came, by invitation, leaning upon a stick, tremulous with old age, to sit in a corner and watch.

"They shape well. They shape uncommon well," he whispered between evolutions.

"Oh, this isn't what they're after. Wait till I dismiss 'em."At the "break-off" the ranks stood fast. Perowne fell out, faced them, and, refreshing his memory by glimpses at a red-bound, metal-clasped book, drilled them for ten minutes. (This is that Perowne who was shot in Equatorial Africa by his own men.) Ansell followed him, and Hogan followed Ansell. All three were implicitly obeyed. Then Stalky laid aside his Snider, and, drawing a long breath, favored the company with a blast of withering invective.

"'Old 'ard, Muster Corkran. That ain't in any drill," cried Foxy.

"All right, Sergeant. You never know what you may have to say to your men.--For pity's sake, try to stand up without leanin' against each other, you blear-eyed, herrin'-gutted gutter-snipes. It's no pleasure to me to comb you out. That ought to have been done before you came here, you--you militia broom-stealers.""The old touch--the old touch. _We_ know it," said Keyte, wiping his rheumy eyes.

"But where did he pick it up?"

"From his father--or his uncle. Don't ask me! Half of 'em must have been born within earshot o' the barracks." (Foxy was not far wrong in his guess.) "I've heard more back-talk since this volunteerin' nonsense began than I've heard in a year in the service.""There's a rear-rank man lookin' as though his belly were in the pawn-shop. Yes, you, Private Ansell," and Stalky tongue-lashed the victim for three minutes, in gross and in detail.

"Hullo!" He returned to his normal tone. "First blood to me. You flushed, Ansell.

You wriggled."

"Couldn't help flushing," was the answer. "Don't think I wriggled, though.""Well, it's your turn now." Stalky resumed his place in the ranks.

"Lord, Lord! It's as good as a play," chuckled the attentive Keyte. Ansell, too, had been blessed with relatives in the service, and slowly, in a lazy drawl--his style was more reflective than Stalky's--descended the abysmal depths of personality.

"Blood to me!" he shouted triumphantly. "You couldn't stand it, either." Stalky was a rich red, and his Snider shook visibly.

"I didn't think I would," he said, struggling for composure, "but after a bit I got in no end of a bait. Curious, ain't it?""Good for the temper," said the slow-moving Hogan, as they returned arms to the rack.

"Did you ever?" said Foxy, hopelessly, to Keyte.

"I don't know much about volunteers, but it's the rummiest show I ever saw. I can see what they're gettin' at, though. Lord! how often I've been told off an' dressed down in my day! They shape well--extremely well they shape.""If I could get 'em out into the open, there's nothing I couldn't do with 'em, Major. Perhaps when the uniforms come down, they'll change their mind."Indeed it was time that the corps made some concession to the curiosity of the school. Thrice had the guard been maltreated and thrice had the corps dealt out martial law to the offender. The school raged. What was the use, they asked, of a cadet-corps which none might see? Mr. King congratulated them on their invisible defenders, and they could not parry his thrusts. Foxy was growing sullen and restive. A few of the corps expressed openly doubts as to the wisdom of their course; and the question of uniforms loomed on the near horizon. If these were issued, they would be forced to wear them.

But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

同类推荐
  • 浪淘沙二首

    浪淘沙二首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无幻禅师语录

    无幻禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说梵志阿颰经

    佛说梵志阿颰经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 素履子

    素履子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四十二章经

    四十二章经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 佛说圣法印经

    佛说圣法印经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 这样的员工最受欢迎:优秀员工要有好心态、好人品、好能力

    这样的员工最受欢迎:优秀员工要有好心态、好人品、好能力

    《这样的员工最受欢迎:优秀员工要有好态度 好人品 好能力》系统、全面地论述了态度、人品和能力的重要性,以生动的实例阐述受到企业欢迎的员工所应具备的心态、品格和能力,为读者带来提升自我的妙法,帮你打开职场的“法门”,让你的职场之路走得更宽阔、顺畅。世界500强企业首选的职业精神培训工具书!态度决定高度,人品决定产品,能力创造价值!投资你的态度,拥有美丽“薪”情;亮出你的人品,拥有光明“钱”途;提升你的能力,拥有过硬业绩!
  • 疯狂的手游

    疯狂的手游

    全球的手机同时出现了一款完全陌生的手游APP,不能卸载,不能移动,十分诡异。它拥有让人往返游戏异界,将技能、装备以及一切物品带回到现世的能力。全人类都被迫参加这一场游戏。开局一裤衩,装备全靠打!————新书《全民的诸天时代》
  • 暖风不再归

    暖风不再归

    苏暖脏了,艾辞安只能眼看着这一切无能为力,待他日强大,注定让他付出代价!
  • 狐狸竹马捕小妻

    狐狸竹马捕小妻

    蓝琪自认为是个大美女,从小的追求者数不胜数,所以她觉得自己这辈子都不会为男人头疼,直到有一天,她惊愕的发现,那个从小被她欺负得惨兮兮,个性好,脾气好,学习好。。。。。似乎没什么不好的“呆子”突然摇身一变,变成了一个谦和儒雅多金俊美的男人,她猛的不淡定了邵子宇从少年时期他就在计划一件事,如何对一个小丫头百依百顺,迁就纵容,惯得她极其挑剔,找不到男朋友。。他很腹黑但在她面前很呆画面一在第N次烂摊子被收拾好后,蓝琪勾着邵子宇的脖子“呆子,你一辈子给我欺负好不好,我怕再也找不到这么好欺负的人了”她一脸的担忧“嗯。。可是。。。”某男似乎很纠结“可是什么?”蓝琪双手勾脖子的撒娇动作改为掐,他敢说不,她就掐死他,也不便宜别的女人“。。我怕以后我的老婆会不同意”“那就掐死这种可能性,我当你老婆”某男低头收敛眼中的笑意“我。。。考虑考虑”二婆媳关系是个永恒的难题“说,我和你妈吵架你到底帮谁?别说哪个有理就帮那个?这不是演电视用不着你来当清官”房间里琪蓝双手插腰,美目圆瞪,一副严刑逼供的样子沙发上,邵子宇摆正姿态“原则上哪个有理帮哪个,但私底下我向着你老婆”某女的怒气收敛,挑眉“真的?”“嗯”“如果做不到怎么办?”“任凭老婆处置”“好,如果做不到我收拾你”此文一对一的宠文,女主美丽,可爱,刁钻,保证善良但不懦弱,男主,英俊潇洒,温柔腹黑,保证专情而又深情
  • 聪明的女人不生气

    聪明的女人不生气

    《聪明的女人不生气》讲述心胸开阔、性格开朗、洒脱大方、温文尔雅的女人,会给人以阳光灿然之美;雍容大度、通情达理、内心安然、淡泊名利的女人。会给人以成熟大气之美;明理豁达、宽宏大量、先人后己、乐于助人的女人,会给人以安详、善良之美。 如果你是一个聪明的女人,那么就从现在开始。踏踏实实、全心全意地经营自己的人生吧!走好每一步,不让自己的心灵在计较中千涸,你的人生就会每天充满阳光!一起来翻阅《聪明的女人不生气》吧!
  • Notes

    Notes

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 世界最具感悟性的哲理美文(1)

    世界最具感悟性的哲理美文(1)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。
  • 花厨娘拽走淮南王

    花厨娘拽走淮南王

    考古研究所---所长女儿花花一朝抱着个破砚摔到了西汉王朝,离奇的成为八公之一田由的妹妹---田如花。邂逅淮南王刘安巧制豆腐卖豆花,摆饭摊,比厨艺,开酒楼,并面馆。跟着哥哥学雕花,收个门客做墩子,交个县令千金做闺蜜,傍个王爷当吃货。一个花季少女挥刀杀鸡,舞勺烩肉,飘香美食迷倒百姓,随之兴盛淮南国的吃界。花厨娘拽着淮南王“你爱我的,对吗?”“本王今生只爱如花一人。今生不够,约定三生。”
  • 巴菲特金牌投资

    巴菲特金牌投资

    本书的写作目的就在于通过对于巴菲特的投资理念、投资方法、投资原则、投资技巧的全面剖析来为读者揭开心中的迷雾,进而为读者展现一个真实而全面的巴菲特。使读者能够在书中去体味巴菲特的投资真谛,去领略巴菲特作为一代“股神”的无穷魅力。