Part 12 (1/2)

”But we're not ht Face! Do you see how it's done? Balance on the heel, this way, and swing around Now then, Right Face!”

The two boys caood Now then, Front Face! Good Left Face! That's not so well Front Face! Now here's another, About Face!”

So the drilling went on, until the boys could an to uns in their hands and let them march with the pieces, and then showed them the manual of arms

[Illustration: ”AT LAST HE PUT THE GUNS IN THEIR HANDS AND LET THEM MARCH WITH THE PIECES”]

”You'll learn in no time,” said the old soldier, when his off time came to an end ”You've crowded a dozen lessons into one”

”And I feel it,” said Darry ”I' in to rest” And he went, followed by Joe All told, the boys had enjoyed the drill very much

Joe was so had been heard of his brother Yet Colonel Fairfield told hied absence

”But should not your quartermaster be here?” asked the boy

”He ,” answered the colonel

The next day dawned cloudy, and by noon a steady rain was falling The boys hardly knehat to do, and, after watching a drill and so quarters They had hardly entered when there cauard at the stockade

”Captain Moore is co, with the quartermaster!” was the cry

”Hurrah, it's Will!” shouted Joe, and ran out despite the rain to welcome his brother

Soon the soldiers came up, mud-stained and tired They embraced half of Coiment, with two attendants Each of these three carried heavy saddle-bags, filled with government money for the soldiers, for payday was now due

”Joe!” cried Captain Moore, as he dislad to see you safe and sound”

”And I alad to see you,” answered Joe

”I will be with you soon--I must first report to Colonel Fairfield,”

went on the young officer, and lost no ti the commandant

His story was soon told, and it speedily spread to all parts of the fort Along with hisfor a whole day Then he had co for an attack upon the quarterht, and in the fight which had folloo of the crowd had been wounded, although all had erous mountain torrent Of the soldiers three had been wounded, onecaptain had received a bullet through his hat

”It was Matt Gilroy himself who fired that shot,” said Captain Moore

”And I won't forget it when next we ht fro to end, and it was he who had wounded one of the desperadoes while the felloas in the act of carrying off one of the , but in the end had been co and ride to save their lives

As soon as Captain Moore had made his report, another detachment was sent out, to follow the desperadoes, if they could be found This detach and under the leadershi+p of Lieutenant Carrol The lieutenant was a man who had met numerous desperadoes in his time, and it was felt that he could do the work e soldier

CHAPTER XII