The National tribune., 1899-07-06

of il, that ST almost had fit. The cooks.
teamsters and other hangerS-on saw tER
trouble and came fiocking around with all
manner of jesting remarks and laughter
which strained Sis temper to the utmost
and encouraged the boys in their peryersiSv.
81 curbed himself down, and laboriousM
exemplified the manner of counting until
the boys had no excuse for not understands
ing it.
Now, said he, at the command Right
iace, the NO. man IN the front rank faces
to the right and stand fast
What do the rest of us do?" they chorused,
The rest o you chase yourselves around
him." said a humorist among the cooksi
while the others laughed uprearioulsy. ;!
Shut up, you pot-wrastlers," said 81
you, III light into you with club. Now
you brats-
Sergeant" admonished the Lieutenant,
you mustn't use such language to your
men,"
This made ST angrier, and the bows moro
cantankerous. 81 controlled himself to go
on with his explanation in a calm tone:
NO. IN the front rank will face to the
right, and stand fast, No in the rear rank
Will face to the right. and take side step %
right, and take on oblique side step to the
right to place himself on the right hand Of
his No. man."
Say that all again, Sergeant" asked
Monty ScruggS.
81 patiently repeated the explanation.
Now sing it to the tune of When this
Cruel War is Over, called out the cook.
humorist.
Fright face" commanded ST.
A roar went up from the camp-fOllower
audience at the hopeless tangle which en-.
sued. No two of the boys seemed to have
done the same thing. Several had turned
to the left, and all were sprinting around in
various ways IN more or less genuine
pfetense of executing the order Mean
While the news that Sis squad of recruits
were having fun with him spread through
the camp, and crowd gathered to watch
the performance and give their jeering
advice III that characteristic Soldierly way
when they see comrade wrestling with a
perplexing job.
Git busheEbasket, and gather 'em up
in it,
Tie straw around their left feet, and hay
around their right ones, SOS they'll know
'em;'
Back 'em up agin rail fence and git 'em
INTO hne; were among the freely. offered
suggestions. ST was sweating all over.
and so angry that he had to stolidly bite his
words OIL, one at time, to keep from show
ing his temper. To add to his troubles, he
saw the Colonel, Of whom he stood in proper
awe, become interested in the crowd and the
shouting, and stroll down from his tent to
see what the excitement was.
"As you were, 81 commanded. steadying
his voice with great effort. Every one of
you git back as placed you. Right dressI"
To his wOnderment they formed as good
line as veterans could have DONE They
heard whisper that the Colonel was conn
ing, and it Sobered them
Fright facer' commanded ST.
They all faced to the right and stepped
into their places without an errorl
'FRONT.' commanded ST, and they re-
turned to two ranks.
All, Sergeant" said the Colonel, kindly,
as he made his way through the respect
fully opened. saluting crowd. Giving
your men their first drill, are you? Well,
you are getting along remarkably well for
recruits I saw that last movement, and it
was very well done, indeed. You've got
some very nice-looking boys there, and l
think they'll be a credit to the regiment"
-. Saved by the skin o my teeth,' gasped
81 to himself, as the Colonel strolled on.
Now, you young roosters, see that you
kin 90 it whenever You want TO, and you've
got to want to after this. A boy that don't
want to I'll take down to the branch there,
and hold his head under water till he does
want to. I'm goin' to stay with you until
you learn the drill dead letter perfect You
can't git rid of me. You'll save trouble by
that. Now Wen go back for
supper. Right face-forward-fil left
March,"
(To be continued)