On the Monday afternoon succeeding the preliminary meeting at the academy, about thirty boys assembled in this hall, pursuant to a notice which had been given at school and posted up at the tavern3 and post-office.
At half-past two Frank entered, accompanied by Mr. Morton.
Some of the boys were already acquainted with him, and came up to speak. He had a frank, cordial way with boys, which secured their favor at first sight.
“Well, boys,” said he pleasantly, “I believe I am expected to make soldiers of you.”
“Yes, sir,” said Charles Reynolds respectfully: “I hope we shall learn readily and do credit to your instructions.”
“I have no fear on that score,” was the reply. “Perhaps you may have some business to transact5 before we commence our lessons. If so, I will sit down a few minutes and wait till you are ready.”
A short business meeting was held, organized as before.
John Haynes reported that he had spoken to his father, and the question of allowing the boys the use of the muskets6 belonging to the town would be acted upon at the next meeting of the Selectmen. Squire7 Haynes thought that the request would be granted.
“What are we going to do this afternoon?” asked Robert Ingalls.
“I can answer that question, Mr. Chairman,” said Henry Morton. “We are not yet ready for muskets. I shall have to drill you first in the proper position of a soldier, and the military step. Probably it will be a week before I shall wish to place muskets into your hands. May I inquire how soon there will be a meeting of the Selectmen?”
John Haynes announced that the next meeting would be held in less than a week.
“Then there will be no difficulty as to the muskets,” said Mr. Morton.
Wilbur Summerfield reported that he had extended an invitation to boys not connected with the academy to join the company. Several were now present. Dick Bumstead, though not able to attend that day, would come to the next meeting. He thought they would be able to raise a company of fifty boys.
This report was considered very satisfactory.
Tom Wheeler arose and inquired by what name the new company would be called.
“I move,” said Robert Ingalls, “that we take the name of the Rossville Home Guards.”
“Not unless I heard it before you,” was the quick reply.
“Order!” cried the chairman, pounding the table energetically. “Such disputes cannot be allowed. I think we had better defer10 obtaining a name for our company till we find how well we are likely to succeed.”
This proposal seemed to be acquiesced11 in by the boys generally. The business meeting terminated, and Mr. Morton was invited to commence his instructions.
“The boys will please form themselves in a line,” said the teacher, in a clear, commanding voice.
This was done.
The positions assumed were, most of them, far from military. Some stood with their legs too far apart, others with one behind the other, some with the shoulders of unequal height. Frank alone stood correctly, thanks to the private instructions he had received.
“Now, boys,” said Mr. Morton, “when I say 'attention!' you must all look at me and follow my directions implicitly12. Attention and subordination are of the first importance to a soldier. Let me say, to begin with, that, with one exception, you are all standing13 wrong.”
Here there was a general shifting of positions. Robert Ingalls, who had been standing with his feet fifteen inches apart, suddenly brought them close together in a parallel position. Tom Wheeler, who had been resting his weight mainly on the left foot, shifted to the right. Moses Rogers, whose head was bent14 over so as to watch his feet, now threw it so far back that he seemed to be inspecting the ceiling. Frank alone remained stationary15.
Mr. Morton smiled at the changes elicited16 by his remarks, and proceeded to give his first command.
“Heels on the same line!” he ordered.
“Quit crowding, Tom Baldwin!” exclaimed Sam Rivers in an audible tone.
“Quit crowding, yourself,” was the reply. “You've got more room than I, now.”
“Silence in the ranks!” said the instructor18 authoritatively19. “Frank Frost, I desire you to see that the boys stand at regular distances.” This was accomplished20.
“Turn out your feet equally, so as to form a right angle with each other. So.”
Mr. Morton illustrated21 his meaning practically. This was very necessary, as some of the boys had very confused ideas as to what was meant by a right angle.
After some time this order was satisfactorily carried out.
“The knees must be straight. I see that some are bent, as if the weight of the body were too much for them. Not too stiff! Rivers, yours are too rigid22. You couldn't walk a mile in that way without becoming very tired. There, that is much better. Notice my position.”
The boys, after adjusting their positions, looked at the rest to see how they had succeeded.
“Don't look at each other,” said Mr. Morton. “If you do you will be certain to make blunders. I notice that some of you are standing with one shoulder higher than the other. The shoulders should be square, and the body should be erect23 upon the hips24. Attention! So!”
“Very well. Haynes, you are trying to stand too upright. You must not bend backward. All, incline your bodies a little forward. Frank Ingalls is standing correctly.”
“I don't think that's very soldierly,” said John Haynes, who felt mortified25 at being corrected, having flattered himself that he was right and the rest were wrong.
“A soldier shouldn't be round-shouldered, or have a slouching gait,” said the instructor quietly; “but you will find when you come to march that the opposite extreme is attended with great inconvenience and discomfort26. Until then you must depend upon my assurance.”
Mr. Morton ran his eye along the line, and observed that most of the boys were troubled about their arms. Some allowed them to hang in stiff rigidity27 by their sides. One, even, had his clasped behind his back. Others let theirs dangle28 loosely, swinging now hither, now thither29.
He commented upon these errors, and added, “Let your arms hang naturally, with the elbows near the body, the palm of the hand a little turned to the front, the little finger behind the seam of the pantaloons. This you will find important when you come to drill with muskets. You will find that it will economize30 space by preventing your occupying more room than is necessary. Frank, will you show Sam Rivers and John Haynes how to hold their hands?”
“You needn't trouble yourself,” said John haughtily31, but in too low a voice, as he supposed, for Mr. Morton to hear. “I don't want a clodhopper to teach me.”
Frank's face flushed slightly, and without a word he passed John and occupied himself with showing Sam Rivers, who proved more tractable32.
“No talking in the ranks!” said Mr. Morton, in a tone of authority. “If any boy wishes to ask any explanation of me he may do so, but it is a breach33 of discipline to speak to each other.”
“My next order will be, 'Faces to the front!'” he resumed, after a pause. “Nothing looks worse than to see a file of men with heads turned in various directions. The eyes should be fixed34 straight before you, striking the ground at about fifteen paces forward.”
It required some time to have this direction properly carried out. Half an hour had now passed, and some of the boys showed signs of weariness.
“I will now give you a little, breathing-spell for ten minutes,” said Mr. Morton. “After this we will resume our exercises.”
The boys stretched their limbs, and began to converse35 in an animated36 strain about the lesson which they had just received.
At the expiration37 of ten minutes the lesson was resumed, and some additional directions were given.
It will not be necessary for us to follow the boys during the remainder of the lesson. Most of them made very creditable progress, and the line presented quite a different appearance at the end of the exercise from what it had at the commencement.
“I shall be prepared to give you a second lesson on Saturday afternoon,” announced Mr. Morton. “In the meantime it will be well for you to remember what I have said, and if you should feel inclined to practice by yourselves, it will no doubt make your progress more rapid.”
These remarks were followed by a clapping of hands on the part of the boys—a demonstration38 of applause which Mr. Morton acknowledged by a bow and a smile.
“Well, how do you like it?” asked Frank Frost of Robert Ingalls.
“Oh, it's bully fun!” returned Bob enthusiastically. “I feel like a hero already.”
“You're as much of one now, Bob, as you'll ever be,” said Wilbur good-naturedly.
“I wouldn't advise you to be a soldier,” retorted Bob. “You're too fat to run, and would be too frightened to fight.”
“I certainly couldn't expect to keep up with those long legs of yours, Bob,” said Wilbur, laughing.
The boys dispersed39 in excellent humor, fully4 determined40 to persevere41 in their military exercises.
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1
inclement
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| adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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3
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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4
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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5
transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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6
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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7
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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8
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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11
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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13
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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14
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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15
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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16
elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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18
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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19
authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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20
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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24
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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25
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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27
rigidity
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| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
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28
dangle
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| v.(使)悬荡，(使)悬垂 | |
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29
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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30
economize
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| v.节约，节省 | |
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31
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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32
tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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33
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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34
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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35
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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36
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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37
expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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38
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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39
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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40
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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41
persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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