CHAPTER XVII 

 VOLUNTEER TROOPS AT EARNED 



TOM returned from Fort Earned that evening. 

 He hoped that his intercession for Flaherty 

 would procure a mitigation of the usual penalty; 

 but desertion, even under extenuating circum- 

 stances, was too serious an offence to pass without 

 at least a form of punishment. The culprit was 

 put in the guard-house, with a fair prospect, how- 

 ever, of being released and restored to duty before 



long. . 



The long-expected three companies of volun- 

 teer cavalry had arrived to relieve the old garri- 

 son, and as soon as the government property could 

 be transferred from the old officials to the new, the 

 old garrison — two companies of Second Infantry 

 and one of Second Dragoons— would march away 

 to Fort Eeavenworth. A week later our old com- 

 rades, the regulars, were gone. 



On his return from his next visit to Fort Earned, 

 two weeks later, Tom had much to say about the 

 lack of discipline shown by the volunteers at the 

 fort, and as we gathered around the mess box, after 

 putting the mules away, he continued his com- 

 plaints. 



195 



