human
Now, boys, you mustn't make fools of yourselves agin'. Stop this nonsense at once, I tell you. I'm just as much your commandin' officer as I ever was.
gpt
How can you be a commanding officer, when everybody else bosses you about? persisted the argumentative Monty Scruggs.
human
Everybody that comes near you orders you around, just the same as you used to us, and you mind 'em. That ain't no way for a commanding officer. We don't want anybody bossing us that everybody else bosses.
gpt
Well, that's the way o' the army, Si explained patiently,
human
Why, it's worse'n 'The-House-That-Jack-Built,'
gpt
Well, you needn't learn all of it, said Si.
human
It's enough for you to know that I command you. That's the A B C of the business, and all you need know. A man in the army gits into trouble offen by knowin' too much. You git it well into your craws that I command you, and that you've got to do just as I say, and I'll do the rest o' the knowin' that you need.--
gpt
But how're we to know that you're right every time,
human
Well, explained the patient Si,
gpt
Great goodness!
human
But the less you bother your heads with Captains and Curnels and Generals the better you'll git along. The feller that's right over you--in arm's length o' you all the time--is the feller that you've got to look out for sharply. I'm him. Now I want you to form in two ranks quicker'n scat, and 'tend to business. I'm goin' to drill you. Gid Mackall, take your place there. Harry Joslyn, stand behind him.