"Fall out," ordered the sergeant presently. "Sit down if you want to, men, or walk about. And I'll answer any questions that you may want to ask me out of ranks." "What a difference between non-coms," uttered Hal to Noll, as the two chums stepped away a few yards. "Sergeant Brimmer is a man, first of all. I'd cheerfully drill under him until I dropped." "Non-com" is the abbreviation used in the Army for non-commissioned officer--a corporal or sergeant. "I hope we don't have to have much to do with Shrimp," muttered Noll Terry. "And I hope we don't find many Shrimps in the Army." "Fall in!" sounded Sergeant Brimmer's voice, at last. How the young rookies sprang to obey, their eyes shining with interest! Sergeant Brimmer now began to explain the "rests." Next he came to the salute. For some minutes he drilled them in the first principles of marching. But brief rests were frequent, and during these rests he answered all questions put to him. "Fall in!" he shouted once more. The rookies fell in as eagerly as before. "Squad, attention!" At that instant a far-off bugle sounded. "That closes this period of instruction," announced the sergeant. "Dismissed!" As the four broke out of ranks Hal approached their instructor respectfully. "Sergeant, 'dismissed' means that we're through, doesn't it?" "Yes, Overton. And this squad is dismissed until supper time. You can return to squad room, or you may remain about out-doors, if you'd rather. Don't go far away from barracks, though." "Thank you," Hal replied, and turned away with Noll. CHAPTER VI THE TROUBLE WITH CORPORAL SHRIMP "I DON'T want to say or think anything disloyal," laughed Noll, as the two chums turned in at barracks, "but I wish Shrimp would desert." "I wish we could have Sergeant Brimmer to teach us all the time," returned Hal. "I can't believe that Corporal Shrimp is any good to the service." "I wouldn't be any good if I had to stand around for a fellow like Shrimp all the time," Noll answered. "How different it is when we are under a real soldier like the sergeant." Corporal Shrimp was alone in the squad room when the two chums entered. The corporal was scowling sulkily until he caught sight of Hal and Noll. "Come over to yer beds, ye two blamed rookies!" ordered Shrimp, jumping up. "I'll be bound ye know nothing yet of how to fold yer bedding." "No, we don't," replied Hal, with an outward respect that he was far from feeling. "Then watch me, bandy-legs, while I put yer bed down in regulation style." Shrimp quickly threw the bedding down on Hal's cot. With the deft hands of the trained soldier Shrimp made the bed up with neatness and dispatch. "And in the morning, after first call to reveille," continued the Corporal, "ye'll turn yer mattress up--so. And fold and lay the bedding--so. Now, let's see ye shake down yer bed and make it."