apologies to offer. I gave everybody a square deal, and for the
information of some half-dozen Hot-spurs who have vowed to give me the
beating of my life the day we should be demobilized, I take pleasure in
announcing that I will be the first man to be discharged, that there is a
nice clear space between these two demobilization-shacks and the ground
is not too hard, that there will be no guards to interfere, and if any
man with the right to call himself 'Mister' desires to air his grievance,
he can make his engagement now, and I shall be at his service at the hour
stipulated. Does anybody make me an offer?" He stood there, balanced
nicely on the balls of his feet, cool, alert, glancing interestedly up
and down the battery front. "What?" he bantered, "nobody bids? Well,
I'm glad of that. I part friends with everybody. Call rolls!"

The section-chiefs called the rolls of their sections and reported them
present. Farrel stepped to the door of the orderly-room.

"The men are waiting for the captain," he reported.

"Sergeant Farrel," that bedeviled individual replied frantically, "I
can't do it. You'll have to do it for me."

"Yes, sir; I understand."

Farrel returned to the battery, brought them to attention, and said:

"The skipper wants to say good-by, men, but he isn't up to the job. He's
afraid to tackle it; so he has asked me to wish you light duty, heavy
pay, and double rations in civil life. He has asked me to say to you
that he loves you all and will not soon forget such soldiers as you have
proved yourselves to be."