Page:The Rover Boys at School.djvu/119

Rh according to their knowledge. On the second day the three Rover boys were placed in the awkward squad, to learn the military drill.

The squad was presided over by Corporal Mark King, a youth who was cut out to be a soldier, although his father was a sea captain.

"Now then, line up!" he called out to the newcomers. "All of you will please toe that crack in the floor; now turn out your toes like this, and put your shoulders back, hands with the palms to the front."

His instructions were followed to the letter, for all were anxious to learn as fast as possible.

"Now the first thing to remember is to say nothing, but obey orders promptly," exclaimed the corporal. "When an order is given the first part is a warning, while the conclusion is the time when that order must be executed. For instance, I tell you 'Eyes right!' I say 'Eyes,' and you get ready to move your eyes; I add 'Right,' and you instantly turn them to the right, and keep them there. Now we'll try it: Eyes&mdash;right! Great smoke! number four, you turned them to the left! Now again: Eyes&mdash;right! Good! Eyes&mdash;front! That's first-class. Now: Eyes&mdash;left! Eyes&mdash;front! That couldn't be better."

And so it went on for an hour, during which the boys learned not alone how to use their