"That's about all the talking you'd better try to do until the rainmaker has seen you," interposed the hospital corps man, and moved away as he added: "Either sleep, or just keep quiet." But the next morning Hal was so much improved that the hospital corps man took a chair by the bedside. "You may want some of the news, Overton, about things that have happened while you've been here." "I am just a bit curious," smiled Overton. "Three of the delinquents got off with ordinary summary court punishments--fines and a little stretch at the guard house. But Minturn, Dowley and Hooper are locked up there, too, and they've got to wait and stand court-martial. Their day in the Army is ended, I reckon." "It ought to be," nodded Hal. "They're no good to the service." Noll was allowed to come in for a few minutes that afternoon. Eight days passed ere Hal Overton was released from hospital. Then the surgeon marked him "quarters" on sick report, which meant that Private Overton was excused from all duties, and must spend his time in taking care of himself only. For four days he continued to be marked "quarters," chafing all the time. "There's a lot I've got to learn about the soldiering business," he grumbled. "I haven't any time to waste loafing." "There's one soldierly duty you can learn right now, then," smiled Soldier Noll quizzically. "What's that?" "You can learn how to obey the rainmaker when you fall under his orders," replied his chum indulgently. "How does an impatient fellow learn that, I wonder?" sighed Hal. "Why, what are you kicking about?" demanded Noll in pretended astonishment. "You're surely not being overworked, and you're getting in trim for the next work we have cut out for us." "What's that?" "Haven't you heard?" "Not a word." "Why, the whole battalion, except for a small guard squad from each company, is to be ordered to the September encampment of the Colorado National Guard. The regulars are to be represented there by field artillery, cavalry, infantry, signal corps men and engineer troops. Hal, it's going to be great! There'll be more than eight hundred regulars and two brigades of militia in camp together." "It won't do me any good," retorted Private Overton cynically. "Why not?" "I'm just out of hospital, and I'll be stuck on the home guard detail from B Company." "Oh, I don't believe that," urged Noll soothingly. "Wait and see." There came a morning when Private Overton marched over to hospital with the other men on sick report. "You seem to be doing pretty well now, Overton," remarked Lieutenant Gross, the surgeon. "How are you going to mark me, sir, to-day?" breathed Hal anxiously. "Duty," smiled the rainmaker. "Thank goodness," murmured the soldier boy. "Why, what's the matter with being marked quarters, Overton?" "Fine, for a loafer, sir, but I want to learn the soldier business, and I haven't any time to lose."