gain as if his life depended upon
his activity. For an instant the Sergeant was speechless with amazement.
At length his tongue was loosened, and he roared out:

"What in the name of General Jackson are you doing, you measly idiot!
Who ordered you to load and fire your piece?"

"I--I th--thought you did!" said Si, trembling as if he had the Wabash
ague. "You said for us to load nine times. I thought nine loads would
fill 'er chuck full and bust 'er and I didn't see any way but to shute
'em oft as fast as I got 'em in."

"No, sir! I gave the command according to Hardee,
'Load--in--nine--times!' and ef yer hadn't bin in such a hurry you'd 'a'
found out what that means. Yer'll git along a good deal faster ef you'll
go slower. Yer ought ter be made ter carry a rail, and a big one, for
two hours."

Si protested that he was sorry, and didn't mean to, and wouldn't do
so again, and the drill went on. The master went through all the nine
"times" of "Handle--Cartridge!" "Draw--Rammer!" etc., each with its two
or three "motions." It seemed like nonsense to Si.

"Boss," said he, "I kin get 'er loaded in just half the time ef yer'll
let me do it my own way!"

"Silence!"' thundered the Sergeant. "If you speak another word I'll have
ye gagged 'n' tied up by the thumbs!"

Si had always been used to speaking right out when he had anything to
say, and had not yet got his "unruly member" under thorough subjection.
He saw that it wouldn't do to fool with the Drill Sergeant, however, and
he held his peace. But Si kept thinking that if he got into a fight
he would ram in the cartridge and fire them out as fast as he could,
without bothering his head about the "one time and three motions."

[Illustration: "FIX--BAYONETS!" 069 ]

"Order--Arms!" commanded the Sergeant, after he had explained how it
was to be done. Si brought his gun down along with the rest like a
pile-driver, and it landed squarely on the foot of the man next to him.

[Illustration: BROUGHT HIS GUN DOWN ON THE MAN'S FOOT 065 ]

"Ou-ou-ouch!" remarked the victim of Si's inexperience.

"Didn't do it a'purpose, pard," said Si compassionately; "'pon my word I
didn't. I'll be more keerful after this."

His suffering comrade, in very pointed language, urged upon Si the
propriety of exercising a little more care. He determined that he would
manage to get some other fellow to stand next to Si after that.

"Shoulder--Arms!" ordered the Sergeant, and the guns came stragg