“I understand now why they call it 'The Big Muddy,' as it is certainly the muddiest river I ever saw.”
“Yes,” replied Harry; “but I don't believe it is as bad as Senator Benton said of it, 'too thick to swim in, but not thick enough to walk on.' Anyhow, we 'll settle that question by having a swim the first chance we get.”
They had their swim, but though they verified the incorrectness of the distinguished senator's assertion, they decided that one must be very dirty indeed to be benefited by a bath in the Missouri; and they readily believed what they were told by a resident of Booneville, that in the time of flood you can get an ounce of solid matter out of every eight ounces of water from the river.
“Look on the map of the United States,” said their informant, “and see how the Mississippi river has pushed the delta through which its mouths empty into the Gulf of Mexico. The land that is formed there has been brought down by the water that fills the channel of the river; some of it comes from the lower Mississippi, but probably the greater part is from the valley of the Missouri.”
CHAPTER IX. REGULARS AND VOLUNTEERS—FORAGING IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY.
Jack and Harry were pretty busily employed about the camp for the first two or three days following their arrival at Booneville. After that time they had more leisure, and were greatly interested in many matters that came under their observation.
One of the first things to arouse their curiosity was the camp of the regular soldiers that formed a part of General Lyon's expedition. When they heard of this part of the force they wanted to know what a “regular” soldier was.
“They are called regulars,” the quartermaster explained, “because they belong to the regular army which the country maintains in times of peace. Compared with the volunteer army, the regulars are few in number, but as long as we have only Indians to contend with they are quite enough for all practical purposes. In time of peace our regular army includes only twenty thousand men, but in case of war the president calls on the different states to send volunteer troops to the field in such number as may be wanted. The president called for troops to put down the rebellion, and the states that remained loyal to the Union have sent the number required of them in proportion to their population.”