Well, a soldier has to take some risks, my boy. But Captain Moore is as
shrewd as he is brave, so you need not fear for his safety. Come right
in; Mrs. Fairfield will be glad to see you. She wants to hear from all
the folks at home."

The boys followed the old officer into the quarters, and here received
an equally warm greeting from Mrs. Fairfield, whom they had met in
Chicago. Dinner was soon served, and while the lads were satisfying the
inner man they had to tell their whole story over again, and also tell
all the news from home.

"While you are here, boys, you must make yourselves perfectly at ease,"
said the colonel. "I know your fathers will expect me to be a father to
you. As for Captain Moore, I will allow him to be with you as much as
military discipline permits."

CHAPTER X.

THE RESULT OF A SWIM.

To the boys, who had never visited a military quarters before, the fort
proved of great interest, and they were glad, after the meal was over,
to have Lieutenant Carrol take them around. This occupied some time, and
when they had finished it was time for the evening parade.

This was quite an affair, and the two lads joined the ladies of the
place to witness it. Everybody turned out, in uniform as clean as
possible, on inspection. The drums rolled, the fifers struck up a lively
air, and the three companies, headed by a major, marched around the
stockade several times and then to the parade-ground in front of the
gates. Here the command went through the manual of arms and through a
number of fancy evolutions.

"It's splendid!" murmured Joe. "Everything moves like clockwork."

"It makes me almost wish to be a soldier," answered Darry. "But if a
fellow had this day in and day out I am afraid he would grow tired of
it."

"You are right, Darry," said Mrs. Fairfield. "The colonel has to think
up a great number of things whereby to interest his men. They get up all
sorts of contests, and concerts and theatricals, and go hunting when
they can get the chance--anything to keep them from growing too dull."

"Have they had any real military duty to do lately?" asked Joe.

"Not for over a year. Then the Modoc Indians got up a sun-dance, and
they had to march over to Kedahmina and stop it. Two Indians were killed
and one soldier was badly wounded. Since that time the Indians have been
quiet."

"But the Indians may rise again."

"Probably they will--one is never sure of them. As one old general has
said,