"_Oll_ get together and left dress, please," besought Captain Rozario, and many of the little islands amalgamated with that on their extreme right while the remainder gravitated to their left--the result being two continents of unequal dimensions. As Captain Rozario besought these disunited masses to conjoin, the voice of the General was heard in the land-- "Kindly order that mob to disperse before it is fired on, will you, Colonel? They can go home and stay there," said he. Captain Rozario was a man of sensibility and he openly wept. No one could call this a good beginning--nor could they have called the ensuing battalion-drill a good ending. "Put the remainder of the battalion through some simple movements if they know any," requested the General. Determined to retrieve the day yet, Colonel Dearman saluted, cleared his throat terrifically and shouted: '"Tallish, 'shun!" with such force that a nervous man in the front rank of "A" Company dropped his rifle and several "presented" arms. Only one came to the "slope," two to the "trail" and four to the "shoulder". Men already at attention again stood at ease, while men already at ease again stood at attention. Disregarding these minor _contretemps_, Colonel Dearman clearly and emphatically bellowed:-- "The battalion will advance. In succession, advance in fours from the left of companies--" "Why not tell off the battalion--just for luck?" suggested General Murger. "Tell off the battalion," said Colonel Dearman in his natural voice and an unnaturally crestfallen manner. Captain Trebizondi of "A" Company glared to his front, and instead of replying "Number One" in a loud voice, held his peace--tight. But his lips moved constantly, and apparently Captain Trebizondi was engaged in silent prayer. "Tell off the battalion," bawled the Colonel again. Captain Trebizondi's lips moved constantly. "_Will_ you tell off the dam battalion, Sir?" shouted the Colonel at the enrapt supplicant. Whether Captain Trebizondi is a Mohammedan I am not certain, but, if so, he may have remembered words of the Prophet to the effect that it is essential to trust in Allah absolutely, and expedient to tie up your camel yourself, none the less. Captain Trebizondi was trusting in Allah perchance--but he had not tied up his camel; he had not learnt his drill. And when Colonel Dearman personally and pointedly appealed to him in the matter of the battalion's telling-off, he turned round and faced it and said-- "Ah--battalion--er--" in a very friendly and persuasive voice. Then a drill corporal took it upon him to bawl _Number One_ as Captain Trebizondi should have done, some one shouted _Number Two_ from "B" Company, the colour-sergeant of "C" bawled _Number Three_ and then, with ready wit, the Captains of "D," "E," and "F" caught up the idea, and the thing was done. So far so good.