human
Did you ever see a gang o' half-baked kids get to be men as quick as these boys? Si asked Shorty.
gpt
Think o' the awkward squads that used to be continually fallin' over their own feet, and stabbing theirselves with their own bayonets.
human
Seems so, answered Shorty,
gpt
Probably we've all growed, Si assented thoughtfully.
human
Just think o' McBiddle as Lieutenant-Colonel, in place o' old Billings. Remember the first time we saw McBiddle to know him? That time he was Sergeant o' the Guard before Perryville, and was so gentle and soft-spoken that lots o' the boys fooled themselves with the idee that he lacked sand. Same fellers thought that old bellerin' bull Billings was a great fightin' man. What chumps we all wuz that we stood Billings a week.
gpt
Wonder if I'm ever goin' to have a chanst for a little private sociable with Billings? Just as I think I'm goin' to have it, something interferes. That feller's bin so long ripe for a lickin' that I'm afraid he'll be completely spiled before my chanst comes.
human
But I can't git over missin' so many familiar voices in command, and hearin' others in their places, said Si.
gpt
That battalion drill they wuz havin' as we come in didn't sound like our rijimint at all. I could always tell which was our rijimint drillin' half a mile away by the sound of the voices. What a ringin' voice Capt. Scudder had. It beat the bugle. You could hear him sing out, 'Co. C, on right, into line! Forward, guide right--March!' farther'n you could the bugle. The last time I heard him wuz as we wuz' going up Snodgrass Hill. A rebel bullet went through his head just as he said, 'March!' Now, Lieut. Scripps is in command o' Co. C, and he's got a penny-whistle voice that I can't git used to.
human
Lieut. Scripps's a mighty good man. He'll take Co. C as far as Capt. Scudder would.
gpt
I know that Scripps's all right. No discount on him. But it don't seem natural, that's all. Every one o' the companies except ours has a new man in command, and in ours Capt. McGillicuddy's voice has got a different ring to it than before Chickamaugy.
human
Practicin' to command the battalion, suggested Shorty.
gpt
You know he'll be Major if McBiddle's made a full Kurnel.
human
That reminds me, said Shorty,
gpt
If we do it's got to be done mighty slick, said Si.
human
They're all mighty good boys, and spunky. They'll all want to go with us, and if they find out we've made any choice they'll never forgive us. I'd a'most as soon have one six boys as another, yit if I had to pick out six I believe I'd take Harry Joslyn, Gid Mackall, Alf Russell, Monty Scruggs, Jim Humphreys and Sandy Baker.
gpt
And Pete Skidmore, added Shorty.
human
We've got to take special care o' that little rat. Besides, I want to. Somehow I've took quite a fancy to the brat.
gpt
Yes, we must take little Pete, assented Si.
human
The proportion's six and one-half to a company. He 'll pass for the half man. But it won't do to let him know it. He thinks he's as big as any man in the rijimint. But how're we goin' to fix it not to let the other boys know that we've picked 'em out?
gpt
I'll tell you what we'll do, said Shorty, the man of many wiles.
human
When the boys are drawed up in line and Capt. McGillicuddy goes down it to pick 'em out, you stand at attention, two paces in front, facin' 'em and lookin' as severe and impartial as a judge on the bench. I'll stand behind you with my leg against your'n, this way, and apparently fixing my gun-lock. When Cap comes in front o' one that we want, yo give me a little hunch with your leg, and I'll make the lock click.
gpt
Splendid idee, said Si.
human
I'll go and post the Cap while you git the boys into line.