"Then you must be a born soldier, Jack." Marion heaved a sigh. "Oh, I
wish this war was over! Why must the men of the South and the North kill
each other?"

"The world has always had wars and always will, I reckon. Do you want to
come to town and see us drill?"

"Will it be safe?"

"I think so, Marion. I don't believe the enemy are coming here very
soon."

Soon after this Jack and Marion were on their way to Oldville, a sleepy
town containing two general stores, a tavern, and a blacksmith shop.

In front of the tavern was a large green, and here a number of boys were
playing various games.

"Hurrah, here comes Captain Jack!" was the cry, when our hero appeared.

"Are we to drill to-day?" questioned Darcy Gilbert, as he ran up and
nodded to Marion.

"If you will," said Jack. His new honors had not made him in the least
dictatorial.

"All right," returned Darcy.

He was first lieutenant of the company, which had styled itself the
Oldville Home Guard, and he quickly summoned the young soldiers
together.

All had uniforms, made of regular home suits with stripes of white sewed
down the trouser-legs and around the coat-sleeves. The boys with pistols
were placed in the front rank, those with guns in the second rank. One
lad had a drum and another a fife.

"Company, attention!" ordered Jack, coming to the front with drawn
sword, and the boys drew up in straight rows across the green. The drum
rattled, and presently quite a crowd of old men, women, and children
collected to see the drill.

"Carry--arms!" went on Jack, and the guns came to a carry, and likewise
the pistols. "Present--arms! Shoulder--arms! Forward--march!"

"Dum! dum! dum, dum, dum!" went the drummer, and off marched the company
to the end of the green.

"Right--wheel!" came the next command, and the boys wheeled with the
order of a veteran body, for each was enthusiastic to do his best.
"Forward!" and they marched on again, and so the marching kept up until
the square had been covered several times.

"Halt!" Thus the commanding went on. "Load! Take aim! Fire!"

And twenty-odd gun and pistol hammers came down with a sharp clicking,
for none of the weapons were loaded, the boys saving their powder and
ball until such time as they might actually be needed. A short parade
around the main streets followed, and then Jack dismissed the company.

"It was splendid!" cried Marion enthusiastically. "I declare, Jack, how
did you ever get them dril