This was the oath of service that Hal repeated: "'I Henry Overton, do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America; that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles of war.'" Then Noll took the same oath. "You have already signed the same oath as a part of your enlistment contract," continued Lieutenant Shackleton. "I have now to certify that you have taken the oath and signed before me." Seating himself once more the recruiting officer certified in the following form on each set of papers: "Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this -- day of ---- , A. D. ---- "THOMAS P. SHACKLETON, "First Lieutenant, 17th Cavalry, "Recruiting Officer." "That is all," finished the recruiting officer. "You are now recruits in the United States Army. I wish you both all happiness and success. You will take your further orders from my sergeant, or from the corporal to whom he turns you over. You will probably find yourself at the recruit rendezvous at Bedloe's Island in time for dinner to-day." Touching a button on his desk the lieutenant waited until the sergeant entered. "Sergeant, turn these men over to Corporal Dodds. Come back in ten minutes for the papers." "Very good, sir." The sergeant led them down the corridor, opening a door and leading the way inside. "Corporal Dodds, here are two recruits. Take care of them until I bring the papers." "Very good, Sergeant." The door closed. "Help yourselves to chairs, or stand and look out of the window, if you'd rather," invited Corporal Dodds, who, himself, was seated at a small desk. Hal and Noll tried sitting down at first. This soon became so irksome that they rose and went to one of the windows. Corporal Dodds said nothing until the door opened once more, and the sergeant entered with an envelope. "Here are the papers for Privates Overton and Terry. You are directed to see that the young men go with you on the eleven o'clock ferry to Bedloe's Island. You will report with these recruits to the post adjutant as usual." "Very good, Sergeant," replied Corporal Dodds, and again the boys were alone with their present guide. To the raw young recruits it was a tremendously solemn day, but to the corporal, it was simply a matter of dry routine. "Ten-fifteen," yawned the corporal, at last. "Come along, rookies; nothing like being on time--in the Army, especially." "Rookie" is the term by which a new recruit is designated in Army slang. It is a term of mild derision.