Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

126 MILfTARY LIFE.
" Tell me, is that officer you were talking to an hour ago
your relative ? "
" No."
" But you knew him ? "
"Very well indeed."
" Is that the officer from your town for whom you were
looking ?"
" The same."
" I did not understand, you see, when you asked me . . ."
"That makes no difference."
"If I had understood I should have answered."
" Thanks."
The corporal moved off ;
the conscript, left alone,
himself :
" Well in the end, he is n't a bad fellow this corporal
! "
said to
Just at that moment the soldiers began to return in groups
to the barracks, talking and singing loudly among themselves.
Among the others was a band of conscripts, a trifle intoxicated,
who were making a tremendous racket.
" When the others make a noise, you dash into their midst,
and do the same " ;
the conscript remembered these words. " I
must make a racket too," he thought ;
"what shall I cry? . . .
"
Ah ! he shouted at the top of his "
lungs Long live the soldier
Perrier !
: "
And the rest, perhaps without understanding what he meant,
replied in a loud voice " " Viva : !
Our soldier dashed into their midst, and singing and shouting
they went up in confusion to the dormitory.
The officer, who had watched him from the window, said
to
himself :
" That fellow will be a fine soldier."