CHAPTER XXIV. A CHAPTER FROM HARDEE
A few rods east of the post-office, on the opposite side of the street,was a two-story building used as an engine-house, The second storyconsisted of a hall used for company meetings. This the fire companyobligingly granted to the boys as a drill-room during the inclementseason, until the weather became sufficiently warm to drill out ofdoors.
On the Monday afternoon succeeding the preliminary meeting at theacademy, about thirty boys assembled in this hall, pursuant to anotice which had been given at school and posted up at the tavern andpost-office.
At half-past two Frank entered, accompanied by Mr. Morton.
Some of the boys were already acquainted with him, and came up to speak.He had a frank, cordial way with boys, which secured their favor atfirst sight.
"Well, boys," said he pleasantly, "I believe I am expected to makesoldiers of you."
"Yes, sir," said Charles Reynolds respectfully: "I hope we shall learnreadily and do credit to your instructions."
"I have no fear on that score," was the reply. "Perhaps you may havesome business to transact before we commence our lessons. If so, I willsit down a few minutes and wait till you are ready."
A short business meeting was held, organized as before.
John Haynes reported that he had spoken to his father, and the questionof allowing the boys the use of the muskets belonging to the townwould be acted upon at the next meeting of the Selectmen. Squire Haynesthought that the request would be granted.
"What are we going to do this afternoon?" asked Robert Ingalls.
"I can answer that question, Mr. Chairman," said Henry Morton. "We arenot yet ready for muskets. I shall have to drill you first in the properposition of a soldier, and the military step. Probably it will be a weekbefore I shall wish to place muskets into your hands. May I inquire howsoon there will be a meeting of the Selectmen?"
John Haynes announced that the next meeting would be held in less than aweek.
"Then there will be no difficulty as to the muskets," said Mr. Morton.
Wilbur Summerfield reported that he had extended an invitation to boysnot connected with the academy to join the company. Several were nowpresent. Dick Bumstead, though not able to attend that day, would cometo the next meeting. He thought they would be able to raise a company offifty boys.
This report was considered very satisfactory.
Tom Wheeler arose and inquired by what name the new company would becalled.
"I move," said Robert Ingalls, "that we take the name of the RossvilleHome Guards."
"If the enemy should invade Rossville, you'd be the first to run,"sneered John Haynes.
"Not unless I heard it before you," was the quick reply.
There was a general laugh, and cries of "Bully for you, Bob!" wereheard.
"Order!" cried the chairman, pounding the table energetically. "Suchdisputes cannot be allowed. I think we had better defer obtaining a namefor our company till we find how well we are likely to succeed."
This proposal seemed to be acquiesced in by the boys generally. Thebusiness meeting terminated, and Mr. Morton was invited to commence hisinstructions.
"The boys will please form themselves in a line," said the teacher, in aclear, commanding voice.
This was done.
The positions assumed were, most of them, far from military. Some stoodwith their legs too far apart, others with one behind the other, somewith the shoulders of unequal height. Frank alone stood correctly,thanks to the private instructions he had received.
"Now, boys," said Mr. Morton, "when I say 'attention!' you must all lookat me and follow my directions implicitly. Attention and subordinationare of the first importance to a soldier. Let me say, to begin with,that, with one exception, you are all standing wrong."
Here there was a general shifting of positions. Robert Ingalls, who hadbeen standing with his feet fifteen inches apart, suddenly brought themclose together in a parallel position. Tom Wheeler, who had been restinghis weight mainly on the left foot, shifted to the right. Moses Rogers,whose head was bent over so as to watch his feet, now threw it so farback that he seemed to be inspecting the ceiling. Frank alone remainedstationary.
Mr. Morton smiled at the changes elicited by his remarks, and proceededto give his first command.
"Heels on the same line!" he ordered.
All the boys turned their heads, and there was a noisy shuffling offeet.
"Quit crowding, Tom Baldwin!" exclaimed Sam Rivers in an audible tone.
"Quit crowding, yourself," was the reply. "You've got more room than I,now."
"Silence in the ranks!" said the instructor authoritatively. "FrankFrost, I desire you to see that the boys stand at regular distances."This was accomplished.
"Turn out your feet equally, so as to form a right angle with eachother. So."
Mr. Morton illustrated his meaning practically. This was very necessary,as some of the boys had very confused ideas as to what was meant by aright angle.
After some time this order was satisfactorily carried out.
"The knees must be straight. I see that some are bent, as if the weightof the body were too much for them. Not too stiff! Rivers, yours are toorigid. You couldn't walk a mile in that way without becoming very tired.There, that is much better. Notice my position."
The boys, after adjusting their positions, looked at the rest to see howthey had succeeded.
"Don't look at each other," said Mr. Morton. "If you do you will becertain to make blunders. I notice that some of you are standing withone shoulder higher than the other. The shoulders should be square, andthe body should be erect upon the hips. Attention! So!"
"Very well. Haynes, you are trying to stand too upright. You must notbend backward. All, incline your bodies a little forward. Frank Ingallsis standing correctly."
"I don't think that's very soldierly," said John Haynes, who feltmortified at being corrected, having flattered himself that he was rightand the rest were wrong.
"A soldier shouldn't be round-shouldered, or have a slouching gait,"said the instructor quietly; "but you will find when you come to marchthat the opposite extreme is attended with great inconvenience anddiscomfort. Until then you must depend upon my assurance."
Mr. Morton ran his eye along the line, and observed that most of theboys were troubled about their arms. Some allowed them to hang in stiffrigidity by their sides. One, even, had his clasped behind his back.Others let theirs dangle loosely, swinging now hither, now thither.
He commented upon these errors, and added, "Let your arms hangnaturally, with the elbows near the body, the palm of the hand alittle turned to the front, the little finger behind the seam of thepantaloons. This you will find important when you come to drill withmuskets. You will find that it will economize space by preventing youroccupying more room than is necessary. Frank, will you show Sam Riversand John Haynes how to hold their hands?"
"You needn't trouble yourself," said John haughtily, but in too lowa voice, as he supposed, for Mr. Morton to hear. "I don't want aclodhopper to teach me."
Frank's face flushed slightly, and without a word he passed John andoccupied himself with showing Sam Rivers, who proved more tractable.
"No talking in the ranks!" said Mr. Morton, in a tone of authority. "Ifany boy wishes to ask any explanation of me he may do so, but it is abreach of discipline to speak to each other."
"My next order will be, 'Faces to the front!'" he resumed, after a pause."Nothing looks worse than to see a file of men with heads turned invarious directions. The eyes should be fixed straight before you,striking the ground at about fifteen paces forward."
It required some time to have this direction properly carried out. Halfan hour had now passed, and some of the boys showed signs of weariness.
"I will now give you a little, breathing-spell for ten minutes," saidMr. Morton. "After this we will resume our exercises."
The boys stretched their limbs, and began to converse in an animatedstrain about the
lesson which they had just received.
At the expiration of ten minutes the lesson was resumed, and someadditional directions were given.
It will not be necessary for us to follow the boys during the remainderof the lesson. Most of them made very creditable progress, and the linepresented quite a different appearance at the end of the exercise fromwhat it had at the commencement.
"I shall be prepared to give you a second lesson on Saturday afternoon,"announced Mr. Morton. "In the meantime it will be well for you toremember what I have said, and if you should feel inclined to practiceby yourselves, it will no doubt make your progress more rapid."
These remarks were followed by a clapping of hands on the part of theboys--a demonstration of applause which Mr. Morton acknowledged by a bowand a smile.
"Well, how do you like it?" asked Frank Frost of Robert Ingalls.
"Oh, it's bully fun!" returned Bob enthusiastically. "I feel like a heroalready."
"You're as much of one now, Bob, as you'll ever be," said Wilburgood-naturedly.
"I wouldn't advise you to be a soldier," retorted Bob. "You're too fatto run, and would be too frightened to fight."
"I certainly couldn't expect to keep up with those long legs of yours,Bob," said Wilbur, laughing.
The boys dispersed in excellent humor, fully determined to persevere intheir military exercises.