train, taking care that the wagon should start from the same point
where it had turned from the main road into camp the previous day. He
was to report the distance we had marched to the commanding officer at
guard-mounting, which, on the march, always takes place in the evening
instead of morning, as at posts and permanent camps. After reaching
Fort Wingate, and taking up the march beyond, he would ride with the
advance, and act as messenger of communication with the rear; but
until then he would ride with his brother and me.

The next morning found all ready for a start at three o'clock. The boy
corporals found it a hardship to be wakened out of a sound sleep to
wash and dress by starlight and sit down to a breakfast-table lighted
by dim lanterns. There was little conversation. All stood about the
camp-fires in light overcoats or capes, for Western nights are always
cool.

When the boys and I started to ride out of camp we were, for a few
moments, on the flank of the infantry company. It was noticeable that
although the men were marching at "route step," when they are not
required to preserve silence, few of them spoke, and very rarely, and
they moved quite slowly. Corporal Henry, at the end of a prolonged
yawn, asked, "Are we going to start at this hour every morning, sir?"

"Yes, usually," I replied.

"How far do we go to-day, Frank?"

"Eighteen miles is the scheduled distance," answered Frank.

"How fast do men march?"

"Three miles an hour," said I.

"Then we shall be in camp by ten o'clock. I don't see the sense of
yanking a fellow out of bed in the night."

"Of course, Henry, there's a good reason for everything done in the
army," observed Frank, with soldierly loyalty.

"Where's the sense of marching in the dark when the whole distance can
be done in six hours, and the sun rises at five and sets at seven? I
prefer daylight."

Evidently our youngest corporal had not had his sleep out, and was out
of humor.

"Will you please explain, sir?" asked Frank.

"With pleasure," I answered. "It is more comfortable to march in the
early morning, when it is cool. Marches rarely exceed fifteen or
twenty miles a day, except where the distance between watering-places
is more than that. Sometimes we are obliged to march forty miles a
day."

"Seems to me the officers are very tender of the men," observed the
sleepy Henry. "Fifteen and twenty miles a day, and five or six hours
on the road, can't tire them much."