Captain Jinks, Hero | Page 9

ashamed of anything. They kept you in there five minutes--I'm not sure
it wasn't ten. If you weren't half a fish, you'd never have come to, that's
all there is of that. And after you'd drunk all that tabasco, too!"
"Is my voice quite right?" asked Sam.
"Yes, thank fortune, there's no danger of your squeaking like Captain
Clark."
Sam sighed.
"And is my nose quite straight?"
"Yes, of course; why shouldn't it be?"
Sam sighed again.
"I'm afraid," he said, "that no one will know that I've been hazed."
He was silent for a few minutes. Then a smile came over his face.
"Wasn't it grand," he went on, "to think that we were following in the
steps of all the great generals of the century! When I put my head into
the tub and felt my legs waving in the air, I thought of General Meriden
striking his head so manfully against the bottom, and I thanked heaven

that I was suffering for my country. I tried to bump my head hard too,
and it does ache just a little; but I'm afraid it won't show."
He felt his head with his hand and looked inquiringly at Cleary, but his
friend's face gave him no encouragement, and he made no answer.
"I think I saw somebody taking a snap-shot of me up there," said Sam.
"Do you think I can get a print of it? I wish you'd see if you can get one
for me."
"It's not so easy," said Cleary. "He was a third-class man, and of course
we are not allowed to speak to him. They've just divided us fourth-class
men up among the rest to do chores for them. My boss is Captain Clark,
and he's the only upper-class man I can speak to, and he would knock
me down if I asked him about it. You'd better try yourself when you
come out."
"Who am I assigned to?" asked Sam.
"To Cadet Smith, and he's a much easier man. You're in luck. But my
time's up. Good-by," and Cleary hurried away.
Sam Jinks left the hospital just one week after his admission. He might
have stayed a day or two longer, but he insisted that he was well
enough and prevailed upon the doctor to let him go. He set to work at
once with great energy to make up for lost time and to learn all that had
been taught in the week in the way of drilling. The morning after his
release, when guard-mounting was over, Cleary told him that Cadet
Smith wished to speak to him, and Sam went at once to report to him.
"Jinks," said Smith, when Sam had approached and saluted, "I am
going down that path there to the right. Wait till I am out of sight and
then follow me down. I don't want any one to see us together."
"All right, sir," said Sam.
When Smith had duly disappeared, Sam followed him and found him
awaiting him in a secluded spot by the river. Sam saluted again as he

came up to him.
"I suppose you understand, Jinks, that none of us upper-class men can
afford to be seen talking to you fourth-class beasts?"
"Yes, sir."
"Of course, it wouldn't do. Don't look at me that way, Jinks. When an
upper-class man is polite enough to speak to you, you should look
down, and not into his face."
Sam dropped his eyes.
"Now, Jinks, I wanted to tell you that you've been assigned to me to do
such work as I want done. I'm going to treat you well, because you
seem to be a pretty decent fellow for a beast."
"Thank you, sir," said Sam.
"Yes, you seem disposed to behave as you should, and I don't want to
have any trouble with you. All you'll have to do is to see that my boots
are blacked every night, keep my shirts and clothes in order, take my
things to the wash, clean out my tent, and be somewhere near so that
you can come when I call you; do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, then, of course, you must make my bed, and bring water for me,
and keep my equipments clean. If there's anything else, I'll tell you. If
you don't do everything I tell you, I'll report it to the class committee
and you'll have to fight, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"That will do, Jinks; you may go."
"I beg your pardon, sir. May I ask you a question?"
"What?" shouted Smith. "Do you mean to speak to me without being

spoken to?"
"I know it's very wrong, sir," said Sam, "but there's something I want
very much, and I don't know how else to get it."
"Well, I'll forgive you this