Within his quarters, till the evening’s dusk gave way to dark, Lieutenant Mudd, martinet at heart, worked assiduously upon his report. He missed supper in its completion; then with the several pages in hand, the conscientious one straightened his blouse, put a rag to his boots, strapped on his Sam Browne and went toward Major Mack’s room. On the way, Lieutenant Charles Surry Mudd detoured only once, and this detour sent him past the enlisted men’s quarters where the loungers were forced to snap into it and deliver the salute. “Too bad, Lieutenant Mudd,” Mack said as he received the report. “Hell, I liked Akeley. We’ll miss him. The whole Trente-Neuf will miss his mandolin of evenings.” “It was murder!” Mudd snarled. “This man Langdon-- It was murder, sir!” “But Sergeant Rictor--” the armorer of the Trente-Neuf--“reported that Bob had fired several hundred rounds. His gun was still warm when Lieutenant Langdon returned,” Major Mack protested. “And you know Bob Akeley, Lieutenant. If he had a chance to go out like that, in action, why, the boy was at a feast with a fork in each hand.” This glorification of personal thrill was not for Mudd. Wordless, white and a-tremble, he weaved on the threshold and tried again and again for words. In the end, he said: “You have my full report, sir. A flight leader must have unbending discipline, sir.” Major Mack walked toward the window. Then, because there was nothing else he could do, he walked back. “Lieutenant Mudd,” he said. “Send Lieutenant Langdon to me.” Major Mack was still pacing when Langdon knocked, came in and reported. The Major eyed the pilot and paced once more to the east window, then he paced back and eyed Langdon once more. “What have you got to say, Lieutenant?” the superior finally asked. “Not a word, sir.” Langdon fought hard to swallow his grief. “I know I’ve pulled a star boner. Guess I’ve had my war--been hired, fed and fired all in a day, sir.” “Whose idea was it, Langdon?” “Mine, sir. As yet, I can’t always remember that I have another man behind me. Observers weren’t in my first schooling, sir.” “Even if the thing were excusable, Lieutenant, you should have asked Akeley what he thought of the plan.” “Yes, sir.” “Maybe you did.” “No, sir. I just got the idea that I could do damage on that road, so I shoved down the nose and went. Then we got together, Akeley and I. He said--“‘Go back and give ’em hell!’ And we went.”