“I was in the army myself,” added the colonel, “but didn’t stay long; me and General Grant couldn’t agree as to how the war should be run, and one night when no one was around, I resigned and left.”
“Then you didn’t win your title in the service,” remarked Captain Dawson, who felt that he could afford to show good will, now that the situation had taken so remarkable a turn.
“Scarcely; the boys think that no officer lower than a colonel is fit to command this crowd, so that’s how I got the handle.”
Captain Dawson could not forbear saying:
“I think it much more befitting that a true and tried soldier, like Corporal Parker, should be in your place.”
“It was offered to me,” said the corporal, “but I refused it.”
“No; we agreed to make him a full-fledged major-general, but he declined the honor with some sarcastic remarks,” said the colonel; “howsumever, boys, now that things have been straightened out, do you intend to go with the captain or with us?”
Corporal Parker addressed his two comrades.
“Wheel and salute!”