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"Commander of the third company wanted by the general!...

commander to the general... third company to the commander." The

words passed along the lines and an adjutant ran to look for the

missing officer.

When the eager but misrepeated words had reached their

destination in a cry of: "The general to the third company," the

missing officer appeared from behind his company and, though he

was a middle-aged man and not in the habit of running, trotted

awkwardly stumbling on his toes toward the general. The captain's

face showed the uneasiness of a schoolboy who is told to repeat a

lesson he has not learned. Spots appeared on his nose, the

redness of which was evidently due to intemperance, and his mouth

twitched nervously. The general looked the captain up and down as

he came up panting, slackening his pace as he approached.