_nil_. The refuse from the troop kitchen is scattered all over the
place, and so are the branches on which the men have been lying. There
is no way for them to cross that stream without their getting their
feet wet; and every officer knows that wet feet are worse than wet
powder. The place does not look as though it had been policed since
you came here. It's a fever swamp. If you have been here two weeks,
it's a wonder your whole force isn't as rotten as sheep. And there!" I
cried, pointing at the stream which cut the camp in two--"there are
men bathing and washing their clothes up-stream, and those men below
them are filling buckets with water for cooking and drinking. Why have
you no water-guards? You ought to have a sentry there, and there. The
water above the first sentry should be reserved for drinking, below
him should be the place for watering your horses, and below the second
sentry would be the water for washing clothes. Why, these things are
the A, B, C, of camp life." For the first time since I had begun to
speak, I turned on Heinze and grinned at him.

"How do you like my report on your camp?" I asked. "Now, don't you
agree with me that you should be court-martialled?" Heinze's anger
exploded like a shell.

"You should be court-martialled yourself!" he shouted. "You are
insulting our good General. For me, I do not care. But you shall not
reflect upon my commanding officer, for him I--"

"That will do, Captain Heinze," Laguerre said, quietly. "That will do,
thank you." He did not look up at either of us, but for some time sat
with his elbow on his knee and with his chin resting in the palm of
his hand, staring at the camp. There was a long, and, for me, an
awkward silence. The General turned his head and stared at me. His