MASQUERADING AS A SOLDIER 21 



wanted me to stay ; but I told them I had only a third- 

 class ticket, and so could not remain, much as I should 

 like to do so. " Why," said one, " we will dress you 

 up, and the conductor won't know you from Adam." 

 They gave me one of Uncle Sam's blue coats and a hat, 

 and in less than half an hour the train started ; and 

 away we went, leaving the Mormon country and the 

 slow emigrant train far behind. I looked as much a 

 soldier as the rest ; so when the conductor came round 

 counting the men, he thought he had made a mistake, 

 because he found one too many. I gave myself no 

 more uneasiness, and was just enjoying a good song 

 that one of the jolly fellows was singing, when a lad 

 came running in from the next car, saying that the 

 conductor was coming again with an officer, who was 

 calling off the names as they came through. 



What to do I did not know; but the boys concluded 

 to hide me in one of the upper bunks, which, when not 

 in use, are fastened up against the side of the car, with 

 barely room for a person inside. It took six of them 

 to lift the bunk with myself in it back again in place ; 

 and one remarked that I must have been wiser than 

 they, for I knew enough not to enlist until I was full- 

 grown and fat. They nearly squeezed the life out of 

 me as with a "Whoop la! lift him up, boys," they shut 

 me in. I felt sure I should be discovered, as the slats 

 were nearly two inches apart, and any one could see 

 me by looking up. I could see the officer as he called 



