Second lieutenants, when their commissions are very new, are often referred to as "shave-tails." A "bob-tail" is a dishonorable discharge, after court-martial. To a real soldier a "bob-tail" means unspeakable disgrace. "A bob-tail for theirs--yes, sir," repeated Private Dowley. "And I'm genius enough to bring it about!" "Perhaps you won't need my help, for you sure are some smart," suggested Bill Hooper in a tone of pretended admiration. "I'm smart enough to see that you'd drop out and use me as the catspaw," growled Private Dowley. "None of that, Bill! You'll stand right by and do half of the dirty work in exchange for half of the satisfaction. Between us we'll give that fool Overton a new middle name, and that middle name will be 'Bob-tail'!" CHAPTER II ON THE GREAT SUMMER HIKE From up the mountain road one of a little group of officers ahead sent back an informal signal. "B Company fall in!" called out Lieutenant Dick Prescott. "C Company fall in!" followed Lieutenant Greg Holmes. These two young West Pointers had been left temporarily in command of the companies with which they served. Some hundred and eighty men rose from their by no means soft seats on the ground along the trail and fell into single file. Another hand signal came down the trail. "B Company forward, route step, march!" commanded Lieutenant Prescott. "C Company forward, route step, march," echoed Lieutenant Holmes a moment later. Tortuously the line moved forward once more. To one well up in the air that long line might have looked like a thin serpent trailing its way up the mountain side. But it was a very real, human line. Each private soldier carried rifle, bayonet, cartridge belt, intrenching tool, canteen, haversack and blanket roll. It was a heavy pack. In addition, men here and there carried either a pick or a shovel. Noll was carrying an extra shovel just now. Hal Overton had no such extra pack to-day, but all the day before he had toiled along with a pick added to the rest of his equipment. What have soldiers to do with a pick and shovel? Theoretically these two companies now engaged on field duty were marching through a hostile country. After a battle the pick and shovel may be used for the work of burying slain comrades. Such tools are also useful in the swift digging of trenches in which to fight. It was past the middle of the afternoon now, and the day of the week Monday. This little column was winding up the third day of its work in field. As B Company traveled tediously along, Hal Overton was nineteenth man from the first sergeant. Noll was twentieth; directly behind Terry marched Private Hyman. "Terry?" called Hyman in a low tone. "Yes?" returned Noll. "How do you like field work now?" "Fine." "You're a cheerful liar," growled Private Hyman. "No, I'm not," laughed Noll. "I'm telling the truth." "You really enjoy this hike?" "Yes; and so does Hal." "Huh! He's a bigger liar than you are."