He moved on and Dick wondered whether he had said too much. He was apt to forget his rank and comparative unimportance when technical matters were discussed. In fact, it was sometimes difficult not to appear presumptuous; but when one knew that one was right---- In the meantime, the Adjutant met the Colonel, and they stopped together at the bridge-head. "I think we have made a good job, but the brigade's transport is pretty heavy," the Colonel remarked. "I'm satisfied with the bridge, sir; very creditable work for beginners. If the other branches of the new armies are as good----" "The men are in earnest. Things, of course, are changing, and I suppose old-fashioned prejudices must go overboard. Personally, I liked the type we had before the war, but we'll let that go. Young Brandon strikes me as particularly keen." "Keen as mustard," the Adjutant agreed. "In other ways, perhaps, he's more of the kind you have been used to." "Now I wonder what you mean by that! You're something of what they're pleased to call a progressive, aren't you? However, I like the lad. His work is good." "He _knows_, sir." "Ah," said the Colonel, "I think I understand. But what about the drawings of the new pontoons? They must be sent to-night." "They're ready. To tell the truth, I showed them to Brandon and he made a good suggestion about the rounding of the waterline." The Colonel looked thoughtful. "Well, the idea of a combined pontoon and light boat that would carry troops is by no means new; but these are rather an unusual type and if it were known that we were building them, it might give the enemy a hint. I suppose you told Brandon the thing's to be kept quiet." "Yes; I made it plain," the Adjutant said, and they walked on. Dick had been sitting on the bridge, but he jumped up as a rhythmic tramp of feet came down the hillside. Dust rose among the cornfields and hung in a white streak along the edge of a wood, and then with a twinkling flash of steel, small, ocher-colored figures swung out of the shadow. They came on in loose fours, in an unending line that wound down the steep slopes and reached the bridge-head. Then orders rolled across the stream, the line narrowed, and the measured tramp changed to a sharp uneven patter. The leading platoon were breaking step as they crossed the bridge. Dick frowned impatiently. This was a needless precaution. The engineers' work was good; it would stand the percussive shock of marching feet.