"True. Really, it's very hard to see how discipline _can_ be maintained. I almost wish now that I wasn't a temporary non-commissioned officer. As a private one simply has the time of one's life, telling corporals all day long to go and boil their heads. I wish I were a private again." "There's one thing you can do," said James. "You can report him to the Sergeant of the Guard." "And what's the good of that?" "Only that it's probably your duty," said James austerely. "And I should think it's also your duty to get back to the guard-tent as soon as possible." I rose with dignity. "I do not consult my solicitor simply to be told my duty," I said stiffly. "All I want to know is, can I bring an action against him?" "No," said James. "In that case I will return. Good evening." I went back to the guard-tent. The mutineer was still reading, but now there was a light to read by. He looked up as I came in. I had had that uneasy feeling all along, and now I knew. It _was_ the Sergeant. I saluted. It may be wrong, as James says, but a salute or two thrown in can't do any harm. "May I speak to you, Sergeant?" I said respectfully, yet with an air which implied that the Germans were upon us and that the news must be kept from the others. We went outside together. "Awfully sorry," I said; "it was rather dark. I'm an ass." "My dear man, that's all right," he said. "By the way you'd better see about getting some straw in. I've got to see the Adjutant." He went off, and I returned to the tent. "I want one of you to help me get some straw," I said mildly. Three of them jumped up at once. "You stay here," they said, "_we_'ll get it." So there you are; there's nothing wrong with the discipline. At the same time if it _were_ necessary to shoot anybody, I am not quite sure how we should proceed. A. A. M. * * * * * A POSSIBLE SOURCE. Dear Mr. Punch,--Having recently dropped into several London theatres and halls of variety I have been struck by the numerical strength, agility and apparently abounding vitality of the young men forming the chorus. These gallant fellows sing and caper with the utmost spirit throughout the whole evening, both in musical comedy or revue; and in London alone, where revues are now being postponed at many of the outlying halls, there must be more than a thousand of them. Now and then they even go so far as to impersonate recruits--the chorus to the recruiting songs which have crept into more than one programme--and they make, I can assure you, Sir, a very brave show with their rifles and their military paces, a little accelerated perhaps by the exigencies of the tune, but a marvel of discipline none the less.