"There's Hyman, sir, and Conrad. Both are bright, attentive soldiers. Then there are Overton and Terry. They're quite new men, but they've made records for themselves in the short time they've been with us." "Any others?" asked Colonel North, tapping his knee with the pencil that he held in one hand. "A few others, sir, but none with quite as good claims as the four men I've named." "Whom do you favor most, Captain?" "It's hard to say, sir. Hyman is nearly through with his enlistment, and Conrad in the middle of his third enlistment. Now, from length of service it looks as though Conrad ought to have one of the appointments." "A man who is well along in his third enlistment, and hasn't been made a non-com. in all that time ought not to have much consideration if there are other men with better natural claims," replied Colonel North. "A man who is thoroughly qualified to be a corporal ought to get there in less than seven or eight years, don't you think so?" "That's true, sir," Captain Cortland nodded. "Is Hyman as good a man as Overton or Terry?" continued the regimental commander, apparently much interested. "He has had longer experience, but I think Overton and Terry are both a shade above Hyman in natural aptitude; in fact, the lads are considerably above him." "Then----" "I see your drift, Colonel, and I agree with you. I therefore urge, sir, that Overton and Terry be appointed as corporals, and I will keep Hyman in mind for the next chance that comes up." "You are satisfied, then, Captain, to make Overton and Terry corporals?" "More than satisfied, Colonel. One of these days they'll be sergeants, at that. A company commander, I take it, sir, can't start too early to fire the spark of ambition in the right men." "You and I are agreed on that, then, Cortland. I am glad you have recommended Overton and Terry as corporals. I will have their appointments published in orders this afternoon." No suspicion had Hal or Noll when they fell in for parade that afternoon. When Lieutenant Wright, battalion adjutant, published the orders, he read off four routine orders before he came to that creating Private Hal Overton a corporal in B Company. "Whew! It has come, but I didn't expect anything like that," quivered Soldier Hal. "I didn't think I could do it inside of a year." "Lucky Hal," thought Private Terry. "He has gotten ahead of me, but I'm glad just the same. It has always been the rule for Hal to beat me, anyway." The next order made Noll Terry's hair stand up. He had been made a corporal, too. How the hearts of both danced when the regimental band played the headquarter's battalion from the parade ground. "You two are the lucky soldier kids," cried Private Hyman, coming up to the boys with outstretched hands. "How did you manage it?" "That's the point, Hyman," laughed Hal happily; "we didn't manage it. It just happened."