Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 30263-h.htm or 30263-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30263/30263-h/30263-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30263/30263-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries. See http://www.archive.org/details/acaptaininthera00egglrich A CAPTAIN IN THE RANKS A Romance of Affairs by GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON Author of "DOROTHY SOUTH," "RUNNING THE RIVER," "THE MASTER OF WARLOCK," Etc. [Illustration: "You have saved the Railroad." Page 336.] A. L. Burt Company, Publishers, New York Copyright, 1904, by A. S. Barnes & Co. TO Mable _On her wedding day, I dedicate this story with affection_ September 8, 1904 PREFACE This story is intended to supplement the trilogy of romances in which I have endeavored to show forth the Virginian character under varying conditions. "Dorothy South" dealt with Virginia life and character before the Confederate war. "The Master of Warlock" had to do with the Virginians during the early years of the war, when their struggle seemed hopeful of success. "Evelyn Byrd" was a study of the same people as they confronted certain disaster and defeat. The present story is meant to complete the picture. It deals with that wonderful upbuilding of the great West which immediately followed the war, and in which the best of the young Virginians played an important part. The personages of the story are real, and its events are mainly facts, thinly veiled. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE FINAL FIGHT 1 II ALONE IN THE HIGH MOUNTAIN 18 III THE NEW BIRTH OF MANHOOD 29 IV A PRIVATE IN THE ARMY OF WORK 38 V THE BEGINNING OF A CAREER 42 VI A CAPTAIN IN THE ARMY OF WORK 48 VII THE "SIZING UP" OF GUILFORD DUNCAN 59 VIII ON DUTY 64 IX ONE NIGHT'S WORK 70 X ALLIANCE, OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE 87 XI THE WAYS OF GUILFORD DUNCAN 100 XII BARBARA VERNE 107 XIII A BATTLE AND AN ACQUAINTANCE 119 XIV A SOCIAL ADVANCE 129 XV THE COMING OUT OF BARBARA 141 XVI A NEW ENEMY 146 XVII AN OLD FRIEND 160 XVIII DICK TEMPLE'S PLANS 168 XIX DICK TEMPLE'S STORY 175 XX IN THE SUMMER TIME 181 XXI AN INTERVIEW WITH NAPPER TANDY 188 XXII UNDER THE HONEYSUCKLES 198 XXIII CAPTAIN WILL HALLAM IN THE GAME 202 XXIV BARBARA'S ANSWER 214 XXV TEMPLE AND TANDY 224