rill call. The clear,
ringing notes had scarcely ceased when there was a commotion in the
barracks, and a crowd of men came pouring out and hurried toward the
stables. There were a hundred and twenty of them, and they belonged to
the troops A, E and L--the latter commonly called the "Brindles"--of
which Captain Clinton's scouting-party was to be composed.

"That's 'Boots and saddles,' George," said the colonel, who stood in the
doorway appearing to notice nothing, but in reality keeping a close
watch over the movements of the men to see that everything was done in
accordance with the "regulations." "You are to go with Clinton, you
know. Are you ready?"

"I will be in half a minute," replied the boy.

The stirring notes of the bugle, or the prospect of soon meeting face to
face some of the bloodthirsty savages who had devastated Mr. Wentworth's
home, must have excited George, so that he did not readily lay his hand
upon the articles he wanted, for considerably more than half a minute
elapsed before he again appeared with his Winchester on his back, a bag
of cartridges slung over his shoulder and a revolver buckled about his
waist. He ran to the stable, and had just put the saddle and bridle on
his horse when another call of the bugle was heard. This was "To horse,"
and in obedience the troopers left the stable and fell into line on the
parade, each man standing at the head of his nag. George did not belong
in line--in fact, he did not know where he _did_ belong--so he kept his
eye on Captain Clinton, and when he saw that officer mount the horse
which an orderly brought up to him, George at once placed himself in his
own saddle, and, riding up to the steps where the colonel was standing,
awaited further developments.

"Prepare to mount!" commanded Captain Clinton as he rode up in front of
his own troop, and the words were immediately repeated by the other two
company commanders.

In obedience to this order each trooper placed his left foot in the
stirrup, and at the command "Mount!" which was given soon after, they
all rose from the ground as if moved by the same set of springs, and
seated themselves in the saddles at the same instant. No man was a half
a second ahead or behind his companions. The three company officers then
rode back to the colonel to report that their respective companies were
ready to march, and after they had listened to some verbal instructions
from him, they bade him and the rest of the officer