The Riverpark Rebellion

orward, fours right

formity of step; the orderly sergeant took his place to the left of the set with ease and rapidity. The remainder of the battalio

ts, gloves, and shoulder-belts were white, and the breastplates were of polished brass. The barrels of the cadets' muskets g

hed, shouted at one another, leaning out from the line to do so, making stren

n from his face, exchanged a few words with the members

wheeling. Upton's infantry tactics, which had recently been adopted in the United States Army, had but lately come into use at Riverpark; and as the excellenc

drill, as directed. The adjutant was a lad of sixteen years. He was well-proportioned, stood erect, and looked the typical soldier throughout. He was well versed in the tactics and an excellent drill-

to-day. Give your commands as though you meant they should be ob

effect. The loose discipline of the first ten minutes had so demoralized the men that they were awkward and slow, and it seemed impossible to keep them in good alignment while they were in motion. Now the centre would b

onstantly either too far to the front or to the rear, or breaking touch toward the

shall send you to the awkward squad.

rily from the ranks, a

ible excuse for you. You have eyes; you can see. You have a

re. Brightly, who was at the pivot, watching the alignment, was exasperated beyond endurance. He passed swiftly do

eep back! An idiot would kn

e front, and brought his hand up against his musket at the shoulder

ake your place, I say!" as the lad hesitated. "I'll d

ngrily, his face pale with passio

mon ground, wheeled them into line, and reported to the major. The battalion was then broken i

three flights of stairs, and passed to his room in the southwest angle. He threw his cap, glove

ing interested him that he could see either on land or water. It was evident that his mind was preoccupied,

ether for nearly two years, and aside from little wordy encounters carried on in jest rather than in earnest, they had never had a quarrel.

ng to get a permit for a walk, and we're going down to the pine grove.

indolent. Besides, I have some letters to write;" and Brightly th

aven't been out of the grounds for a week; you haven't studied a lesson with vim for a fortnight; you haven't cared for three months whether sch

efinger high in the air in such a way as to indicate something being sent w

ked up, evid

for any advice, have

is bed, and seating himself astride the only other chair in the room. "I've had this thing on my mind for some time," he contin

ou've kept up with your classes because you couldn't help it; but you've sat and moped and growled till you're fossilized and moulded, and the moss is growing on you. To-day you woke up long enough to get

st, then slightly indignant, and then, wi

ntinued with more vigor: "But I will be obeyed in the ranks. Belcher was obstinate and ugly. I lost all patie

ou should hold your temper. You remember Colonel Silsbee warned us, when

is blockheads he's not obliged to keep me in commission. He might as well

his chair a

what's the use in giving up to disappointment? You have a good thing as it is. There isn't a more showy, responsible, soldierly position in the battalion than that of adjutant. And then there are on

you deserve the best. It simply occurs to me that after a fellow has been here two years, and has stood at the head of the school in study-mar

's in him. But he makes a good officer in many respects; he

infinite superiority over everybody in general and me in particular. It's a good thing I'm on the staff and not un

some good reason for making him the ranking cadet-officer, you may be sure, a

it's because his father is a general in the army and worth a hundred thousand dollars, and my mother has t

eve it. I tell you if it isn't all a mistake there's some good reason for it, and one that does no discredit to you, or to Colonel Silsbee either. Why can't you let i

oys; they've been up to a good deal of mischief lately, and the colonel's drawing the lines pretty tight, and they're chafing under 'em. It gets that way every year,-it seems to come in with the spring air; but I've never s

ument. There was a tender pitch to his voice though, as he laughed a little, said he guessed there was no danger, and continued, more

e room, "look out for Belcher! He's breathing out threatenings and slaughter against you. Keep your

od-

drill-hall. Brightly came down while the roll was being called, and, in the absence of the major, received the salu

ht, on account of the storm, nearly every one was in the drill-hall. Some were gathered in gr

ed a great, overgrown baby. He had a round, good-natured face, a complexion as fair and rosy as a girl's, and a voice that w

dozen of them, and backing him up against the wall, amused themselves

top of it with much roughness, they bent before him in mock reverence, hailing him as "His Fatness the King of H

shall have an extra allowance of pig-feed to-n

e rolled awkwardly down from his perch, and fled with ludicrous ha

stlessly. Captain Brede and Cadet Belcher were walking up and down

his sword; why, I heard the blow myself. It's an outrage,-it's a brutal outrage. He wouldn't use a man that way the second time that belongs to my company, I can tell

still standing, as if measuring with his eye

w," he said. "I can tell him

ce for him. You've got a right to; he's no better than you are, out of ran

Belcher was working himself into an appropriate fr

ain, in a whisper; "give it to him! I'l

ctly up to Brightly, while Brede, standing at a little distance from them, lo

punished. He was shrewd and unscrupulous; he was proud and boastful. By his craft he had ga

ans in his power to hurt Brightly without incurring the risk of a personal encounter. His triumph when he obtained the ranking cadet-office w

why he was urging Belcher on. He knew that Belcher would probably get worste

nt in a threatening attitude, wit

you had to insult me in the ranks to-

arms, and looked coo

lain my conduct as an office

u did to-day. You were given the office of adjutant because it was a place where you could do the least mischief

to flash, but his arms

e," he said

loud words, others had scented the trouble from afar. They swarmed to the

They had expected a quarrel between them, and now it w

ked himself int

astically; "officer! You're

His fingers twitched convulsively, the veins on his forehead stood out da

assionately, "and strike if you dare! I repeat it

as parried and returned. Blows fell from each in quick succession; then the combatants clinche