“This means promotion to some one,” said our men, when it was known that our first lieutenant, Reese, was not likely to resume duty on account of the severity of his wounds. In spite of hardships and battle, to which, however, we were becoming reconciled, we professed ourselves enthusiastically ready for another “bout” with the Boches, and didn’t care who knew it! I was very proud, for my friend Jonathan gained the good opinion of his officers and men, by his soldierly coolness and courage. “Say,” said Sutherland confidentially, “them German chaps don’t take a back seat in fighting, I guess.” “It is no use to dispute the fact that they are brave men,” I answered. “Aw!” said Pat, “of course, or they wouldn’t be holdin’ on here in France by their teeth like so many divils. An’ I haven’t a doubt that ould Satan himsilf is a brave one too.” Thus ended our first real fight in France, the memory of which gave us courage for the fighting before us. One of the results was seen a few weeks after, when First Sergeant Nickerson was promoted to be second lieutenant of my company, in place of Lieutenant Reese, who was mustered out of the service with honors on account of wounds. I was also promoted to be a second sergeant, and no one but myself knew how undeserved was my advancement; though there came a time soon when I thought I deserved it better. CHAPTER IX A CALL RETURNED “See here!” said our burly top sergeant, “the Boches have made a call on us, and it seems to me it is up to us to return it, as is usual in polite society.” “I wouldn’t be so sorry,” growled Sutherland, with a grin, “if I never saw them again.” “An’ sure, as my mither used to say about the O’Flyns,” said Quinn, “their room is bether than their company.” But individual preferences do not count in the army. Everything, even human nature, must yield to discipline. The making of a soldier is not the matter of a day, or one of personal preference; it is one of progressive training; and a part of that training is to put in practice that which has been learned in theory. For illustration: we had been taught, in theory, the importance of personal cleanliness for the preservation of health; but in the squalor of trench life, we were apt to disregard it. Especial care in washing of the feet was enjoined, to prevent trench feet which is not only a painful infliction but one that unfits a soldier for marching or other duty. “An’ why,” said Quinn, “don’t they put off bein’ so particular until we have more toime?” “Because,” said Sutherland, “the time to do a thing in the army is when it is the most inconvenient.” “I belave yees,” said Pat. “They expect us to shave and kape nate as though we were going to a dance, or to call on the prisident, instid of standing on a fire step in a muddy trench, with rats running over us and cooties for steady visitors.”