The Project Gutenberg EBook of Boys of The Fort, by Ralph Bonehill

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Title: Boys of The Fort
Or, A Young Captain's Pluck

Author: Ralph Bonehill

Release Date: April 19, 2010 [EBook #32057]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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BOYS OF THE FORT

_Or, A Young Captain's Pluck_

FLAG OF FREEDOM SERIES

By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL

AUTHOR OF "THE YOUNG BANDMASTER," "WHEN SANTIAGO FELL," "A SAILOR BOY
WITH DEWEY," "OFF FOR HAWAII," ETC.

GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT, 1901, BY
THE MERSHON COMPANY

[Illustration: DEFENDING THE FORT.]

PREFACE.

"BOYS OF THE FORT" is a complete story in itself, but forms the fifth
volume of a line of works issued under the general title of "Flag of
Freedom Series."

In penning this tale I had it in mind to acquaint my young readers with
the ins and outs of military life at one of our Western forts of to-day,
showing what both officers and privates are called upon to do, and what
troubles the Indians and the bad men of that locality are still in the
habit of making. The field is one about which little has been written,
although abounding in interest, and one which is worthy the attention of
all who have the proper development of our country at heart.

To some, certain scenes in this book may appear overdrawn, yet such is
far from being the case. In this wild territory there are those who have
lived all their lives beyond the pale of civilization, men who grow up
dwarfed and crooked in mind, and who resent every effort made to better
their condition.

The young captain is a fine specimen of the wide-awake American army
officer, yet he is no more brave and dashing than are thousands of
others, officers and privates, who serve under our Flag of Freedom. He
is trained to do his duty, and he simply does it, r