34 The Rough Riders 



very annoying; and shortly after midnight both the 

 Colonel and I came to the doors of our respective 

 tents, which adjoined one another. The sentinel 

 in front was also fighting mosquitoes. As we came 

 out we saw him pitch his gun about ten feet off, and 

 sit down to attack some of the pests that had 

 swarmed up his trousers' legs. Happening to glance 

 in our direction, he nodded pleasantly and, with un- 

 abashed and friendly feeling, remarked, "Ain't they 

 bad?" 



It was astonishing how soon the men got over-* 

 these little peculiarities. They speedily grew to rec- 

 ognize the fact that the observance of certain forms 

 was essential to the maintenance of proper disci- 

 pline. They became scrupulously careful in touch- 

 ing their hats, and always came to attention when 

 spoken to. They saw that we did not insist upon 

 the observance of these forms to humiliate them; 

 that we were as anxious to learn our own duties as 

 we were to have them learn theirs, and as scrupu- 

 lous in paying respect to our superiors as we were 

 in exacting the acknowledgment due our rank from 

 those below us ; moreover, what was very important, 

 they saw that we were careful to look after their 

 interests in every way, and were doing all that was 

 possible to hurry up the equipment and drill of the 

 regiment, so as to get into the war. 



Rigid guard duty was established at once, and 



