"Halt!" Thus the commanding went on. "Load! Take aim! Fire!"
And twenty-odd gun and pistol hammers came down with a sharp clicking, for none of the weapons were loaded, the boys saving their powder and ball until such time as they might actually be needed. A short parade around the main streets followed, and then Jack dismissed the company.
"It was splendid!" cried Marion enthusiastically. "I declare, Jack, how did you ever get them drilled so nicely?"
"Oh! the fellows take to it naturally. Besides, Darcy did as much as I did."
"No, Jack is our chief drillmaster," put in Darcy. "He takes to soldiering as a duck takes to a pond."
"It's wonderful. Still, I hope you never have to go to war," concluded Marion.
"If we do, we'll try to give a good account of ourselves," said Darcy, as Marion walked away.
"Indeed we will!" cried our hero.
Now she was in town Marion concluded to do some shopping, and accordingly made her way to one of the general stores, a place kept by Lemuel Blackwood, one of the oldest merchants in that part of the State.
Blackwood's store was usually crowded with goods of every description, but the war had all but wrecked his trade, and his stock was scanty and shop-worn.