“Und how soon vos ve goin’ py China, captain?” asked Carl Stummer, a German volunteer who had enlisted in Company A soon after his old friend Gilbert had become lieutenant. “Just as soon as orders come from headquarters, Stummer. Are you anxious to get on new fighting ground?” “Vell, captain, I ton’t vos barticularly anxious for new fightin’ ground; but I vos anxious for ground vot ain’t vet a foot deep all der dime,” answered Stummer, with a broad grin. “Last night I dream me I vos in Noah’s ark, und der ark got sunk, und I vent overboard. Ven I vake up, I vos on mine pack in vater most a foot teep.” “I hope you swam for your life, Carl,” put in Gilbert, while a laugh went up. “He can’t swim, bedad,” added Dan Casey, an Irish soldier, who had been a friend to Stummer for years. “Don’t ye remimber how Captain Ben Russell--he was only a common sodger thin--hauled him out av the waters av New York Bay, an’ was arristed fer doin’ it, bekase the colonel thought he was afther tryin’ to desert whin he jumped overboard.” “I vos learn me how to schwim since den,” replied Stummer, gravely. “Of I didn’t learn, I vos drown more as fifty dimes ofer here alretty.” And again a laugh went up. Tents were to be struck at noon, sharp; and soon the camp was a busy place, as the soldier boys began to gather together their few belongings. Although it was raining lightly, guns had to be cleaned, swords polished, and uniforms brushed up as much as possible. The news had travelled swiftly that the regiment was ordered to China; and many of the officers and men of other commands close by came in to verify the report, and to say good-by to their friends. Several came to see Gilbert and wish him the best of luck, for he had always been popular. “I thrust we’ll be afther seein’ Captain Russell in Manila,” said Dan Casey to the young lieutenant. “I wouldn’t loike to go away widout sayin’ him farewell.” Casey and Stummer had both been members of Ben Russell’s company of volunteers before joining the regulars. “Yes, I hope we do see him, and Larry, too,” answered Gilbert. “I would give a good deal to have the Russells go along.” But this was not to be, as the duty of the Russell boys lay elsewhere. The colonel of the command was a stickler for military discipline; and promptly at twelve the regiment moved, or at least the two battalions which were located in that neighborhood. The third battalion had gone up in the mountains to the southward, and a special message had been sent to it to rejoin the main command at the earliest opportunity.