, what did they march us out here for?« he demanded of the tall
soldier. The latter with calm faith began a heavy explanation although he had
been compelled to leave a little protection of stones and dirt to which he had
devoted much care and skill.
    When the regiment was aligned in another position, each man's regard for his
safety caused another line of small intrenchments. They ate their noon meal
behind a third one. They were moved from this one also. They were marched from
place to place with apparent aimlessness.
    The youth had been taught that a man became another thing in a battle. He
saw his salvation in such a change. Hence this waiting was an ordeal to him. He
was in a fever of impatience. He considered that there was denoted a lack of
purpose on the part of the generals. He began to complain to the tall soldier.
»I can't stand this much longer,« he cried. »I don't see what good it does to
make us wear out our legs for nothing.« He wished to return to camp, knowing
that this affair was a blue demonstration; or, else, to go into a battle and
discover that he had been a fool in his doubts and was in truth a man of
traditional courage. The strain of present circumstances he felt to be
intolerable.
    The philosophical tall soldier measured a sandwich of cracker and pork and
swallowed it in a nonchalant manner. »Oh, I s'pose we must go reconnoiterin'
around th' kentry jest t' keep 'em from gittin' too clost, or t' develope 'em,
or somethin'.«
    »Huh,« said the loud soldier.
    »Well,« cried the youth, still fidgeting, »I'd rather do anything 'most than
go tramping 'round the country all day doing no good to nobody and just tiring
ourselves out.«
    »So would I,« said the loud soldier. »It ain't right. I tell yeh if anybody
with any sense was a-runnin' this army, it -«
    »Oh, shut up,« roared the tall private. »Yeh little fool. Yeh little
damn'-cuss. Yeh ain't had that there coat an' them pants on fer six months yit
an' yit yeh talk as if -«
    »Well, I wanta do some fightin' anyway,« interrupted the other; »I didn't
come here t' walk. I could a' walked t' home, 'round an' '
