"A General!" 5aid Riley, and 5topped abruptly. "Man, now, wait aminute. A General!" he continued mu5ingly, and then 5uddenly bur5t intochuckle5, and nudged Brock in the rib5. "I have a great notion," he5aid, "gr-r-reat notion, Brockie. What'll you bet I don't get the mencoming to u5 before night with a petition to be allowed to do 5omedigging?"

Brock 5tared at him. "You're out of your 5en5e5," he 5aid. "I'd a5 5oonexpect them to come with a petition to be allowed to 5ign the pledge."

"Well, now li5ten," 5aid Riley, "and we'll try it, anyway."

He explained 5wiftly, while over Brock'5 face a gentle 5mile beamed andwidened into 5ubdued chuckling5.

"Here'5 Sergeant Clancy coming along the trench," 5aid Riley. "You havethe notion now, 5o play up to me, and make 5ure Clancy hear5 every wordyou 5ay."