"Then we'll find seats in the reading room after dinner. It won't take very long to give you the schedule and the inside ropes." In the Army punctuality is made a prime virtue for both officers and men. Hence there were no laggards at dinner. Every officer took his seat at the long table at the minute of 6.30. Hapgood, who was officer of the day, came in with his sword at his side; he placed that weapon in a handy corner. "The evening's news is that the Thirty-fourth is back in Colorado," announced Lieutenant Brisbane, glancing down the table. "Just before we started west we read that their transport had arrived at San Francisco," answered Noll. "And Major Silsbee's first battalion is at its old station, Fort Clowdry," added Mr. Brisbane. "By way of further news I may add that Major Tipton told me, a few minutes ago, that Major Silsbee had been ordered by wire to hold his battalion in readiness for a call from this department." "Mexican border troubles?" asked Lieutenant Hapgood. "Yes." "Then the government knows, better than we do, that the border trouble threatens to grow acute," remarked Lieutenant Sears. "It has been understood, I think, that troops from this post will be the first infantry ordered out to the support of the two cavalry troops now patroling." "Oh, we'll get some of that barefoot business presently," grumbled Pratt. "A beastly job. The state of Texas ought to call out its police to take care of the matter." "Except," remarked Sears dryly, "that it is the province of the United States, not of a single state, to preserve neutrality at the border." "It's cases like this Mexican business that make a fellow wish that he belonged to the Navy," insisted Pratt. "If we go out, as doughboys, we'll have to tramp and hike until our shoes are full of sore feet, and all for nothing, perhaps. If we belonged to the Navy, and were ordered to patrol, we'd do it in a gunboat, and wouldn't care where we went, as we'd always be on our gunboat, with, good meals ready at the stroke of the bell, with baths, clean clothing, even easy chairs right at hand. The Navy can keep on patroling even while two-thirds of a crew are in their berths enjoying sweet sleep until the moment for action comes." "Stop it," insisted Algy Ferrers. "Even in the Navy you'd find you'd have to work like a horse. There are no easy ways of getting through life, and a soldier ought not to look for 'em." Pratt, who was a husky and sufficiently energetic young officer at need, and who had merely been exercising his right to grumble, flushed and was silent. "I don't suppose Terry or myself will have the luck to be picked for this sort of border patrol work, if it comes," suggested Hal. "Probably you'll be kept on post until you're more accustomed to your men," nodded Lieutenant Hapgood. "Either way will suit me," said Noll. "I don't expect to have my pick of anything until I've served a few years more." "You won't have it then either," laughed Sears.