The Marines Have Landed

, you kids, shake a leg

bellowed through the room. In the long dormitory thirty-odd boys, their ages ranging from fifteen to Dick's own, were hurrying their p

y, boisterous throng, fastening last buttons as they

heavily on his hands. Being fortunate in knowing, before he came into the service, how to handle the ebony sticks and blow a bugle, he had escaped a good deal of the monotonous preliminary ground work which the boys in the "school for mus

re given; sat astride the wooden benches with his companions and lustily pounded out "M

alled him up for his first le

usly inclined, irresponsible lot of young Americans. "I want you to start in practising this to-day--yes, that is right--you hold the sticks correctly! Now, make t

t-hand strokes, "Dad-dy," slowly at first then more quickly, till finally the plank beneath

ss you get this down thoroughly at the start you will never be a drummer. Next!" And Dic

iece, and that his lip was in condition, and after trying him out the first day and finding him able to read

ed the required examination and

ance, had been the oldest boy there; he was as tall as Richard, but did not have the weight nor strength. From their first meeting Dick and Henry formed a liking for each other which daily increased and strengthened. Henry confided to Dick that he hoped to work his way up to a commission, and

o their squad room after the regular physical drill which fol

king papers," said Henry in his deliberate South

issed from their drill. "I don't reckon they ever will learn anything. They are only mischief-making children, and seem to have no sense of responsibility at all. Sometimes I wonder why they take such

ly in the morning to put one over on him. He has been through the mill himself, for he is a graduate from this very school. It's just because they are kids, that's all, and most of them have not had the advantages you and I have enjoyed, Hank, in the way of schooling and home training and assoc

ommission

inquired Henry, rather curious to know

in every way, and I've had several talks with Miller and other N.C.O.'s about service things. In this way I get

s, and more or less vulgar too, that I avoid all of them as much as possible. Until you came along, Dick, I

edge properly, is bound to help us and make us better men. If you hope to become a successful officer you will have to know your men, how to treat them and to deal with them; you will have to make their interests your intere

n his voice. "I reckon I'll get along. So, as we can't agree on that point, let us cu

k the Commanding Officer of the Post held his weekly inspection, and woe betide any luckless youngster whose bunk was n

were the mattresses in their immaculate white covers; on top of each mattress were the folded sheets, their smooth edges to the front. Next came the pillow in its linen case; and final

ich were stored toilet articles, knickknacks, and wearing apparel. Each bit of clothin

Friday is field day in every Marine Corps garrison, consequently the

ed when the blaring call of

soupy,

t I 've

coffee

a sing

porky

a streak

ang th

er of heavy china dishes on the wooden mess tables, the noise of knife and fork and spoon, the clatter of voices filled the air. Messmen, who were themselves marines detailed for the duty, for which they received an extra compensati

sed in khaki, and wearing at his left side the famous

n--s

ce reigned. Some N.C.O., catching sight of the Officer of the Day coming through the doorway to inspect the morning meal, called out the order, but only for a moment was

mess-man is allowed for ev

the men to continue work, drill, or occupation in which they were en

ng the attention of the busy messmen to some trivial defect, then he disappeared in the direction of the

ack to his squad room. The apprentices were supposed to have their quarters in proper "police" by mess call in the morning, and while they were engaged in filling their stomachs, the N.C.O. in charge, Gunnery

he possessed a heart under the weather-beaten exterior, and honestly admired and respected him. He was never unjust, he gave them no work not necessary to their welfare. He heard the

curriculum was little more than the "three R's." Besides being the drill instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Miller strove at all

ching, crawling. During "Old Grumpy's" inspection, while they were at mess, he had found several pairs of shoes unblackened, others not aligned, and still others poked away in improper places. So he gathered all the shoes in the room in a heap and left them for their owners to disentangle and set aright. It was not an easy job to find one's shoes when mixed up in a jumbled mass of ove

s on their allotted parade ground, while the companies

y arrived, so Gunnery Sergeant Miller took occasion to give them a few las

into a pile as they did this morning. That means more work for all hands. I can't stop to pick out the few that are all right wh

ntices watched the movements of the companies as the

nd has always rendered his well-known march music to perfection. At this moment following the sounding of "Adjutant's Call," the space between the barrack buildings was filled with marching men forming in one long line with the band on its right, swords flashing, guns glinting in the

as old as Methuselah," remarked Gunnery Sergeant Miller to the latest recruit near whom he was standing, "and

mstock and Henry Cabell, were adding volume to the music during certain parts of the mar

unction the band rendered various selections much to the delectation of many curious sightseers who had been admitted at the Main Gate t

Henry. "No, not where you are looking, but the one standing

l referred to. How familiar she looked! She reminded him of--yes,--it

and started from the ranks. Just in the nick of time Henry caught

eth, "here comes the 'Old Man!'" His prompt action pr

ugh to catch the culprit. So he was forced to postpone further investigation of the untoward circumstanc

e for inspection;

rank took three paces backward and halted, while in both lines heads and eyes were turned smartly to the

ro

ping the hilt a few inches from his chin, with the blade slanting upward and slightly outward. This part of the ceremony being over Colonel Waverly carefully inspected every boy in line. He exam

h. At last the ordeal was over and immediately on being dismissed he requested and received of "Old Grump

Music?" questione

to go to the visitors' benches and speak with his mother, father a

nd you are excused for

ir," but he still remembers the feeling of those motherly arms about him and the sweet kisses on h