Si Klegg, Book 4

by John McElroy

  CHAPTER XIV. THE FRISKY YOUNGSTERS

  TRYING TO LICK A BATCH OF RECRUITS INTO SHAPE.

  FOR awhile the tumult of thought kept Si awake, but he was too young,healthy, and tired for this to last long, and soon he had his headpillowed on his blanket-roll, placed in the open car-window, and wassleeping too sound to even dream of Annabel, while the rushing trainpelted his face with cinders from the engine and a hail of gravel fromthe road-bed. But what was that to a soldier-boy who had been home, seenhis best girl, and had one of his mother's square meals?

  When the train rolled into Jeffersonville in the afternoon, they sawLieut. Bowersox on the platform anxiously waiting for them. His facelighted up with pleasure when he saw them, and eagerly coming forward hesaid:

  "Great Cesar, boys, but I'm glad you've come. I've been waiting for youall day. Rush orders came last night to send everybody to the front.I guess they are in need of every gun they can get. I should have gonelast night, but I managed to stave off my orders till now. If you hadn'tcome on this train, though, I should 've had to go on with out you.Hurry along, now. We are going right across the river."

  Despite the Lieutenant's urgency, Si found time to hand him a jar ofhoney and a small crock of butter from their home supplies, which hereceived with proper appreciation, and handed over to the grinning negroboy he had picked up somewhere in Tennessee for a servant. They followedthe Lieutenant to where he had his squad of about 100 recruits gathered.He said:

  "Here, Klegg, you will act as Orderly-Sergeant, and Shorty and the restof you as Sergeants of this detachment. Here is the list of them, Klegg.Make up a roll and call it whenever I order you to do so."

  Si took the list and looked over the crowd. They were mainly boys ofabout the same age and style as himself when he first enlisted, but hethought he had never seen so green, gawky a lot in the world. Like himthen, every one was weighted down with a bundle of things that wouldevidently be contributed to the well-being of the people along the lineof march.

  It seemed to him that they stood around the platform in as uglycrookedness as a lodgment of driftwood on a Wabash bottom after afreshet.

  "Where on the Wea prairies," muttered Shorty, "did Old Abe pick up thatjob lot o' wind shaken, lopsided saplings? Must've bin pulled when greenand warped in the dryin'."

  "Well, we've got to git 'em into some sort o' shape," answered Si. "Youmust help."

  "I help?" returned Shorty despairingly. "You'll need a West Pointperfessor and a hay-press to git that crowd into soldier shape. I ain'tonce."

  "Here, Sergeant," ordered Lieut. Bowersox, "line the men up, count them,learn their names, and give them a little preliminary drill, while I goto Headquarters and see the Colonel again about our transportation."

  "Fall in, boys; fall in," commanded Si.

  The crowd looked at him curiously. They knew that he wanted them to dosomething, they were willing to do it, but they hadn't the slightestidea what it was. They made a move by huddling up a little toward him.

  "Fall in in two ranks, with the right here," shouted Si.

  There was more inconsequent huddling, which seemed so purposely awkwardthat it irritated Si, and he spoke sharply:

  "Gosh all Krismuss, what's the matter with you lunkheads? Don't you knownothing? You're dummer'n a lot o' steers."

  "Guess we know 'bout as much as you did when you first enlisted," saidthe smallest of the lot, a red-cheeked, bright-eyed boy, who looked asif he should have been standing up before a blackboard "doing a sum" inlong division, instead of on his way to the field of strife. "Show ushow, and we'll learn as quick as you did."

  Si looked at the fresh young boy. There was something actually girlishin his face, and it reminded him of Annabel. His heart softened towardhim at once, and he remembered his own early troubles. He said gently tothe boy:

  "You're right. What's your name, my boy?"

  "Abel Waite."

  "Well, Abel, we'll make a soldier out of you in a little while. You arethe smallest; you'll be the left of the line. Go and stand there at thecorner. Now, boys, all lay your bundles down. Here, you tall fellow,what's your name?"

  "James Bradshaw."

  "Well, Bradshaw, you'll be the right of the line all the time, and therest 'll form on you. Come, stand here."

  Bradshaw shambled forward in a way that made Shorty call out:

  "Here, Bradshaw, wake up! You ain't now follerin' a plow over the lastyear's corn-furrers. Straighten up, lift them mud-hooks livelier anddrop your hands to your side."

  The man stopped, raised his hands, and looked at Shorty with his mouthwide open.

  "Come, Bradshaw," said Si gently, taking hold of him, "I'll show you.Now you stand right here. Put your heels together. Now turn your toesout. Throw your shoulders back this way. Close your mouth. Put yourlittle fingers on the seams of your pantaloons that way. Now stand justso."

  The poor man looked as miserable as if put in a strait-jacket, but triedto literally obey instructions.

  "Now, what's your name?" Si asked the next tall est man.

  "Simeon Wheelwright."

  "Wheelwright, you stand behind Bradshaw, just as he does."

  And so Si went painstakingly through the whole squad until he cameto Abel Waite, whom he found did not need any instruction, for he hadprofited by hearing the lectures to the others, and was standing asstiff and correct as a veteran could have done.

  "Great outfit," remarked Shorty, walking down the line, gun in hand,and surveying it critically. "Looks like a mourners' bench froze stiff.Here, you red-headed man there, take in that corporation. You won't haveso much bay window after you've lived on army rations awhile."

  "Now," commanded Si, "when I say 'Count twos from the right,' I want youto begin and count. The first man you, Bradshaw says 'one,' and the nextman on your left says 'two' and so on. The men in the rear rank do thesame. Count twos from the right Count!"

  "One, two; four, six; seven, nine; ten, 'leven," shouted the boys, inall manner of tones and general bewilderment.

  "Stop it; stop it!" yelled Si, his temper again rising. "Great day,can't you fellers understand plain English when it's talked to you?What's the matter with you, anyway? Here, Bradshaw, when I give theorder to count, you count one. Wheel wright, you count one at the sametime. Williams and Talbot, you each count two. Then Aldrich, you andReynolds count one, and so on."

  At last he got them to count to his satisfaction, and then proceeded tothe next lesson.

  "Now, at the command 'right face' everybody face to the right. The No. 1men in the front rank stand fast. The No. 1 men in the rear rank takea side step to the right. The No. 2 men each take a side step to theright, and places himself on the right of No. 1."

  "Great Jehosephat, Si," remonstrated Shorty; "it'll take 'em a month tolearn all that."

  "Don't care if it does," said Si desperately. "They've got to learn itsometime, and they can't learn no younger. Might as well begin now asany time. 'Tention! Right face!"

  Si had hard work restraining the angry words which fumed up when he sawthe execution of his command. Only a few had turned to the right. Therest had either stood still, turned to the left or were turning firstone way and then another, to adjust themselves to those nearest them.

  "Looks like a political primary just before the vote's called," remarkedShorty. "Better git red rags to tie around their right hands, so'sthey'll know 'em."

  "It'll be a shame to take them across the Ohio river in this shape,"said Si in deep vexation. "They'll shoot one another's heads off in thefirst fight, if they've guns in their hands."

  "Don't worry," answered Shorty consolingly. "They'll pick it up mightyfast as soon as they see other fellers doing it, and 'll be in purtygood shape by the time we git 'em to the regiment. We was just as greenas they are."

  Si repressed his petulant words with an effort, and started in to givethem an ocular demonstration of the way to execute "right face," but wasinterrupted by the Lieutenant coming up and saying:

  "Here, we've g
ot to move right out to catch the ferryboat and the trainon the other side. 'Tention! Pick up your bundles. Forward, march!"

  THE RECRUITS LINED UP ON THE PLATFORM. 186]

  Tactics were forgotten in a go-as-you-please rush on to the ferryboat,through the streets of Louisville, and on to the cars for Nashville.Everybody else was doing the same. The boat and streets were filledand the depot yard packed with men all pushing forward for the "front."While Si, walking alongside the Lieutenant, led, Shorty and the rest ofthe detail brought up the rear. After they had scrambled into the oldfreight cars and stowed them selves away, Si looked over his squad andcounted it.

  "Have you got them all aboard, Sergeant?" in quired Lieut. Bowersox.

  "I've got the right number, sir," Si answered, saluting; "and if theyain't all the same men they're just as good."

  "All right," returned the officer. "I had 103 put in my charge to taketo the regiment, and 103 men I must have when I get there."

  "You shall have the full 103, Lieutenant," assured Shorty, "if we haveto snatch in a native or two to take the place of some that fall throughthe cracks."

  At Nashville the crowd and confusion were excessive; detachments ofmen of all kinds, sorts and conditions armed and unarmed recruits,convalescent veterans, men coming back from furlough, stragglers underguard, squads of Quartermaster's employees, gangs of railroad laborersand bridge-builders were all surging around, while their officers,superintendents, foremen, etc., shouted themselves hoarse in trying toget their men together and keep them so. When Si at last got his men onboard, and the train had moved out, he was dismayed to find that he wasfive short.

  "They was lost in that shuffle back there in the depot," said Shorty."Lucky it wa'n't more. Wonder that we ever got through as well as wedid."

  "What in the world am I going to do?" inquired Si dolefully. "There's nouse sending back for them. They've probably got mixed up with some othersquads, and gone the Lord knows where. They haven't sense enough to findtheir regiment in such a ruck as this."

  Si counted his men over again, with no better result.

  "I've got an idee," said Shorty, as Si came up to commune again with himas to the misfortune. "I noticed five mighty lively young Irishmen inthat bridge gang that's on the rear car, and I've got a pint flash ofwhisky that some fellow was green enough to lay down while we was therein Nash ville. I'm goin' back to that car on recruitin' duty."

  Si, unable to think of anything better, went with him. The train hadstopped on a switch, and seemed likely to rust fast to the rails, fromthe way other trains were going by in both directions. The bridge gang,under charge of a burly, red-faced young Englishman, was in the rearcar, with their tools, equipments, bedding and cooking utensils.

  The English foreman was a recent arrival in the country. This was hisfirst employment here. Naturally surly and domineering, these qualitieswere enhanced by potations at Nashville and since leaving.

  Si and Shorty strolled up to the young Irishmen, who were standing onthe ground near their car. They were very plainly recent arrivals, forthey still wore the characteristic clothes of the Emerald Isle, andafter a little conversation with them Shorty produced his bottle andoffered them a drink. The foreman had watched them suspiciously, and hecame swaggering up, saying insolently:

  "'Ere, you bloomin' sojer, Hi want you to keep haway from my men, handnot be a-givin' them drink. You stay by yourselves, hand Hi won't 'ave'em hinterfered wi' by nobuddy."

  "Your men," sneered Shorty. "You talk as if they was niggers, and notwhite men. Who made 'em yours?"

  "Stow yer wid, ye bloody blue-jack," returned the foremancontemptuously, "hand pull ha way from here. Hi never could bear sojersblokes, too lazy to work hand too cowardly to steal. Hike out o' here,and shut you 'ead, hif you know w'at's well for you."

  "Shut up your own head, you British blowhard," retorted Shorty, "andmind your own business. Wait until you are a little longer in thecountry be fore you try to run it. And I don't want no more o' yourslack. If you don't keep a civil tongue in your head I'll make you."

  The Englishman was just in the mood to be savagely tickled at theprospect of a fight. He had not had a good, square one since he hadbeen in the country, and nothing yet had offered so gratifying asthe prospect of polishing off one of the despised "Hamerican sojers."Several of the hated officers had strolled up, attracted by the highwords, and it would be an additional pleasure to thrash one of their menbefore their eyes, in revenge for the slights he felt they had put uponhim.

  "You won't fight," he said disdainfully, "except with a gun or a knife,like a bloody Dago. Ye dassent put up yer 'ands like a man."

  For response, Shorty handed his cap, his gun, his bottle, hisblanket-roll, his belt and haversack to Si, rolled up his sleeves,spit on his hands, doubled his fists, and stepped forward into a boxingattitude.

  "Balance up to me, you beer-bloated Britisher," he exclaimed, "and gitnaturalized by a real Star-Spangled Banner lickin' by an artist whokin comb down any man that owes allegiance to Queen Victoree. Here's aHeenan for your Tom Sayers."

  The Englishman began disrobing with an alacrity that showed how muchhis heart was in it. A ring was speedily formed, the officers, mainlyLieutenants and Captains, eagerly assisting, while keeping their eyesover their shoulders to see that no one of much higher rank was in theneighborhood.

  When the men confronted one another it was seen that they were afairly-good match. The English man was stouter and heavier; he showeda splendid forearm, with corresponding swelling muscles near theshoulders, and the way he poised himself and put up his hands revealedthat he had "science" as well as strength and courage. Shorty was tallerand more spare, but he was quicker and had the longer reach. It lookedas if the Englishman had the advantage, from his solid strength andstaying power, as well as "science." But those who looked on Shortyas inferior did not know of the training he had received among theturbulent crews of the Mississippi River boats. A man who had summeredand wintered with that fractious race had little to learn in any trickor device of fighting.

  The first round showed that both were past-masters of ring tactics.Their wardings and layings for openings were so perfect that neithercould get a blow in.

  When they stopped for a moment to breathe the Englishman said with frankadmiration:

  "Y're a heap better lot than Hi thort yer. Where'd ye learn to handleyer dukes?"

  "Never mind where I learned," answered Shorty. "I learned enough to gitaway with any English man that ever chawed roast beef."

  Again they closed, and sparred quick and hard for advantage, but neithersucceeded in getting in any thing but light, ineffective blows. Eachrealized that the other was a dangerous man to handle, and each keptcool and watched his chances. When they took another second to breathethe Englishman said:

  "I'm goin' to settle ye this time, young feller, in spite o' yerfibbin'. Ye peck around me like a cock pickin' up corn, but I'll bustye. Look hout for yerself."

  He made a savage rush to break through Shorty's guard by main force,but Shorty evaded him by a quick movement, the Englishman struck his toeagainst a piece of railroad iron, and fell to his knees. Shorty had himat his mercy, but he merely stepped back a little further, and waitedfor his opponent to rise and regain his position before he againadvanced to the attack.

  The Englishman lost his coolness. Again he rushed savagely at Shorty,with less care in his guard. Shorty evaded his mighty blow, and reachingup under his guard struck him on the chin so hard that the Englishmanfell like an ox.

  Shorty took him by the hand and helped him to his feet. "Do you want anymore? Have you got enough?" he asked.

  "Yes, Hi've got enough," answered the English man. "I'm too groggy togo on. Hi've been drink-in' a bit too much to 'andle myself wi' afirst-class man like yerself. Y've downed me, and y've downed me fair,for Hi'm not the man to whimper about not being fit. There's my hand.We're friends. We'll try hit again some day, when Hi've got the likkerout o' me; won't we?"

  "Certainly, whenever
you like," said Shorty, shak ing hands with him.

  "Say, cul," said the Englishman, in the friendliest sort of way, "w'atwas ye wantin' around among my men?"

  "To tell you the truth," answered Shorty, "I was after them to enlistwith us. We lost five men in the shuffle at Nashville, and I was lookin'out for some to take their places.

  "That's w'at I thort," said the Englishman. "That's w'at I was afraidof. The 'ead bridge man 'as bin preachin' to me ever since 'e 'ired me,hand we made hup the gang in New York, to look hout hand keep my menfrom bein' enlisted. Say, youngster, his yours a good regiment?"

  "The very best in the army," unhesitatingly as serted Shorty. "Allfree-born American citizens, and high-toned gentlemen. I tell you,they're daisies, they are."

  "Hi don't 'know," said the Englishman meditatively, "but Hi'd like tosee a little bit o' fightin' myself. Bridge buildin's 'eavy, 'ard work,and Hi wouldn' mind sojerin' a little while for a change."

  "Come right along with me and this man," said Shorty catching on."You'll see the purtiest fighting to be found anywhere in the army, forthe 200th Injianny kin do it up to the Queen's taste. And we'll treatyou white. A better set o' boys never lived."

  "Hi'll do hit," said the Englishman decidedly.

  "Mebbe," suggested Shorty, remembering that this would still leave themfour short, "some o' your gang'd like to come along with you."

  "Some o' them," said the Englishman earnestly. "Hevery bloomin' one o'them 'as got to go. They've got to volunteer. Hif Hi find hany cowardlybloke that'd rather be a beastly bridge-builder than a gentleman and asojer, I'll pound 'is 'ead offen 'im. They'll all volunteer, I tell ye,w'en Hi speak to 'em."

  Si had been quietly talking to the rest of the gang while thisconversation was going on, and discovered a general willingness toexchange mechanical pursuits for those of a more martial character, andso when they left the train at Chattanooga, Lieut. Bowersox marched atthe head of 130 recruits, instead of the 103 with whom he had crossedthe Ohio River.