_Now_
d'you see why there's such a rush to get into a Guard battalion?"
"Indeed I do. Have you commanded the regiment experimentally?"
"Oh, time and again," Burgard laughed. "We've all had our E.C. turn."
"Doesn't the chopping and changing upset the men?"
"It takes something to upset the Guard. Besides, they're all in the game
together. They give each other a fair show you may be sure."
"That's true," said Matthews. "When I went to N'Gami with my--with the
half-company," he sighed, "they helped me all they knew. But it's a gift--
handling men. I found _that_ out,"
"I know you did," said Burgard softly. "But you found it out in time,
which is the great thing. You see," he turned to me, "with our limited
strength we can't afford to have a single man who isn't more than up to
any duty--in reason. Don't you be led away by what you saw at Trials just
now. The Volunteers and the Militia have all the monkey-tricks of the
trade--such as mounting and dismounting guns, and making fancy scores and
doing record marches; but they need a lot of working up before they can
pull their weight in the boat."
There was a knock at the door. A note was handed in. Burgard read it and
smiled.
"Bayley wants to know if you'd care to come with us to the Park and see
the kids. It's only a Saturday afternoon walk-round before the
taxpayer.... Very good. If you'll press the button we'll try to do the
rest.
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