cts made with
volunteers for short terms, holding them to service for two years
additional, should the war continue so long; and all twelve months'
recruits, below eighteen and over thirty-five years, who would otherwise
have been exempted by this law, were to be retained in service for
ninety days after their term expired."

"Hey--youp!" yelled Dick, dancing about like one demented. "Our own
government is ten times worse than the one we are fighting against, and
every one of us was a fool for ever putting on a gray jacket. Why didn't
they tell us all this in the first place, so that we might know what
there was before us? It's a fraud and a cheat and a swindle and a--and
a--what are you about?" he added, turning almost fiercely upon his
captain, who elbowed his way through the excited group and tried to take
the paper from his hand. "I'll not obey the orders of the Richmond
government, and that's all there is about it."

"I was going to direct your attention to something else," replied the
captain, paying no heed to the sergeant's rudeness. "But since you are
so nearly beside yourself I don't suppose you can read it, and so I had
better tell you what it is. You say you will not obey the orders of the
Richmond government?"

"That is what I said, and I will stick to it," exclaimed Dick. "They
have no right--"

"Hold on a bit," the captain interposed.

"They may not have the right but they have the power, and you will have
to give in. They offer you inducements to re-enlist for two years. You
will be regarded as volunteers, and be allowed the privilege of changing
your officers and electing new ones."

This was a big inducement indeed. The men laughed derisively when they
heard it.

"If you don't volunteer, but insist on leaving the army when your term
of service expires, you will never get out of the camp," continued the
captain. "You will be conscripted."

"I don't care if I am," answered Dick, indignantly. "I'll not do duty."

"Then you will be treated as a mutineer and run the risk of being shot
without the benefit of a drum-head court-martial," said the captain;
whereupon the men backed off, thrust their hands into their pockets and
looked at him and at one another. "I tell you, boys, this is no time for
foolishness," the captain went on, earnestly. "Ever since Bull Run the
Northern people have been showing the mettle that's in them. That defeat
got their blood up and they mean business. They have more vol