THE WOLF HUNTERS 



"The volunteers don't know anything about 

 soldiering," said Tom, "an* the officers are no 

 better. It nearly broke my heart to see the miser- 

 able imitation of military service they're gettin' 

 off. 



"Now, to give you an idea of their style, com- 

 pared with regulars, what would you think to 

 see a buck private in his dirty fatigues come 

 a-saunterin' up to the adjutant's office, flop him- 

 self down in a chair, hoist his muddy boots up 

 onto a table, push his hat back, an' say to the 

 commanding officer, who was occupying a similar 

 position on the opposite side of the table: 'Well, 

 Joe, what do you think of this layout, as far as 

 you've got ? ' 



"Oh, come now, Tom," said Jack with an in- 

 credulous smile, "you don't expect us to believe 

 such a yarn as that?" 



"It's gospel truth," exclaimed the old man. 

 "Here's another sample of how they do it: A cap- 

 tain was standin' in front of the adjutant's office 

 smokin' a cigar, an' a corporal strolled up to him 

 an' asked: 'I say, Cap, have you got the mate to 

 that about your clothes?' 



"Peck, do you believe him?" said Jack, ap- 

 pealing to me; and without waiting for my an- 

 swer, he continued: "I do be afeared Tom's been 

 mixin' his drinks." 



"Here's another one," said Tom. "A lieuten- 

 ant an' about a dozen men come out of their 



