o feet above the level of the puddle. But leaving
enough earth to form a dam, the men in a line so vigorously worked the
strong little shovels that in scarcely more than five minutes they were
ready to break down the dam. They broke it, the water came pouring
through, and with cheers the men kept the channel clear. With great
brooms the men of tents Four and Six swept out their domiciles, other men
dug the channel deeper, still others on the further slope kept the flood
from the other tents, and as we formed for supper (the two parts of the
company on the two sides of the dividing puddle) the lake was more than
half drained away. By the time we came back from mess the puddle was
clean gone, and the captain was devising means to get the men of tents
Four and Six in dry quarters for the night.

And now to take up my narrative, earlier broken off.--The major, as we
were assembled for the oath, said a few words in explanation of it, then
read it aloud, while we stood with hats off and right hands raised,
before the flag. At the end each man said "I do!" and then one by one we
acknowledged our signatures on our slips. So I am now enlisted in the
army of the United States, bound to obey the President and the Secretary
of War, and entirely at the mercy of our superior officers.

But they have been merciful to us today in sparing us two soakings, and I
have had my own personal share. While we were standing, waiting for the
major to come and give us the oath, the captain's eye fell on me.
Evidently he pondered for a moment, then he beckoned me out of the ranks.
Said he, "I thought you weren't to take the oath." I answered, "I have
always meant to take it, sir." "Oh," said he, "then I was misinformed.
Well, that is what prevented me from making you sub-squad-leader, and
I'll do it today. Just say nothing about it beforehand." So I saluted and
stepped back. When we were lined up in the company street again (having
first put our sweaters on by our own decision, and then having taken them
off by order of the major, who presently took us to regimental drill on
the parade ground) the lieutenant announced, "Mr. Godwin will be
sub-squad-leader in Squad Eight." So I dropped back into the rear rank,
my rear-rank man took my place, Reardon gave place to me, and the other
men moved to numbers two and one. In that order we drilled, and good
Reardon showed me his duties. To make sure that the change is permanent,
Bannister asked the captain,