THE WOLF HUNTERS 



vice versa. But how can the bhnd lead the blind ? 

 Their officers can't instruct the men, for the offi- 

 cers don't know anything about military matters 

 themselves. An' it's one of the truest sayings 

 that ever was said that * familiarity breeds con- 

 tempt'; an' if an officer, or even a non-com, ex- 

 pects to command the respect and obedience of 

 them that's subject to his orders, he's got to hold 

 himself aloof from 'em, to a reasonable degree; 

 an' he's got to prove himself competent to com- 

 mand 'em." 



Naturally, Jack and I became very anxious to 

 go over to the fort and see things for ourselves, 

 and when the time came for going after our next 

 mail and taking in another load of wolfskins 

 Tom agreed to let us both make the trip, on a 

 strict promise from Jack that he would not taste 

 liquor. 



At the post we found the state of affairs about 

 as Tom had represented. Officers and men seemed 

 equally ignorant of military affairs and especially 

 of frontier service. 



While loafing about the sutler's store next day, 

 Weisselbaum came out of his back room and, call- 

 ing me to one side, said confidentially: 



"I've got a job for you. Peck, and there's good 

 pay in it, too. It's this way: There's a young 

 man here. Lieutenant Lang, in command of one of 

 these companies; he's got plenty of money; his 

 father's rich an' furnishes him plenty. He's a 



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