Each company then went out to march and drill. Let us study a sample. This was Captain Coronet’s company. His colour-sergeant, known as Fiery Dick, was a regular terror. This valiant was supported by Sergeants Maloney, O’Dooley, M’Sappy, and Greegor. Very tough gents, I assure you. If they lacked a knowledge of the three R’s and perfection in the King’s English, they could bash their sections about in the most vigorous style. The preliminary address of Fiery Dick was interesting. "Look ’ere, you funny bundles of humanity, you’ve got to drill like soldiers, not like fishermen. And when I says ’’Shun,’ I means ’’Shun.’ None of your hankey-pankey tricks, such as wiping your wet noses on your sleeve, or keeking round the corner for a smell of the canteen. Stand erect, head still, eyes to your front, and puff out your chest. Keep your thumbs in line with the seam of your trousers, not inside of the next man’s pocket. Remember, pickpocketing’s not allowed in His Majesty’s Service. If you want a bob, I’ll lend you one—and charge you interest. Now—’Shun!" This evidently was not perfect. "Here, O’Riley, don’t squint at me like that. That’s dumb insolence. Won’t have it. None of your moonlighter tricks here." "To the divil wid ye," muttered O’Riley, who was a bit of a hard case. "Take his name, Sergeant Maloney. I’ll teach him not to talk back in the ranks. Squad—’Shun!" There was now a stillness that pleased the professional eye. "Not bad for Militiamen. Now we’ll try the slope. Look slippy! Chuck it about. It won’t bite you. And don’t wobble your head like a looney in the asylum. Squad—Slope. Macsausage, wait for the last word—you’re too slippy—expect you’ve been a bookie in civil life, always slipping the cops. Stand still, Private Rednose. Squad—Slope—arms!" There was a weird attempt at precision. Weird is the word, for Fiery Dick immediately bellowed, "As you were." They tumbled back to the order again. "You for soldiers—you’re like a lot of monkeys gettin’ up a pole. But I’ll teach you—Double march." Off they galloped round the square, to the grim delight of Dick, who heaved his chest with martial pride, and followed their antics with his eyes. "Double," he roared, as they slacked a little. "Who told you to crawl like worms? Hi, M’Ginty, you’re rolling like a bloomin’ old fishwife. O’Riley, I’ll get a stretcher for you, you lazy spud-eating Paddy." "Ach, to H—— wid you," shouted back O’Riley. "Halt!" roared Dick, aflame with military wrath. "What do you mean, talking back to a Non-Commissioned Officer?" "Yis couldn’t drill my ould cat," leered O’Riley in a fearless way. "What—you—— How dare——" "Aisy, sargint, or, be jabers, you’ll burst." "Sergeant Maloney, march him to the clink. Skilly and cells will teach him." "Thank yis, sargint—I’ll get a sleep in the clink," chirped O’Riley as he was marched away.