Si had always been used to speaking right out when he had anything to say, and had not yet got his "unruly member" under thorough subjection. He saw that it wouldn't do to fool with the Drill Sergeant, however, and he held his peace. But Si kept thinking that if he got into a fight he would ram in the cartridge and fire them out as fast as he could, without bothering his head about the "one time and three motions." 'fix--bayonets!' 069 "Order—Arms!" commanded the Sergeant, after he had explained how it was to be done. Si brought his gun down along with the rest like a pile- driver, and it landed squarely on the foot of the man next to him. Brought his Gun Down on the Man's Foot 065 "Ou-ou-ouch!" remarked the victim of Si's inexperience. "Didn't do it a'purpose, pard," said Si compassionately; "'pon my word I didn't. I'll be more keerful after this." His suffering comrade, in very pointed language, urged upon Si the propriety of exercising a little more care. He determined that he would manage to get some other fellow to stand next to Si after that. "Shoulder—Arms!" ordered the Sergeant, and the guns came straggling up into position. Then, after a few words of instruction, "Right shoulder shift—Arms!" "Don't you know your right shoulder?" said the Sergeant, with a good deal of vinegar in his tone, to Si, who had his gun on the "larboard" side, as a sailor would say. "Beg yer pardon," said Si; "I always was lefthanded. I'll learn if yer only gimme a show!" "Silence!" again roared the Sergeant. "One more word, sir, and I will tie ye up, fer a fact!" The Sergeant got his squad down to an "order arms" again, and then, after showing them how, he gave the order, "Fix—Bayonets!" There was the usual clicking and clattering, during which Si dexterously managed to stick his bayonet into the eye of his comrade, whose toes were still aching from the blow of the butt of Si's musket. Si assured him he was sorry, and that it was all a mistake, but his comrade thought the limit of patience had been passed. So he confidently informed Si that as soon as drill was over he was going to "pound the stuffin'" out of him, and there wouldn't be any mistake about it, either. When the hour was up the Captain of the company came around to see how the boys were getting along. The upshot of it was that poor Si was immediately organized into an "awkward squad" all by himself, and drilled an extra hour. "We'll see, Mr. Klegg," said the Captain, "if you can't learn to handle your arms without mashing the toes and stabbing the eyes out of the rest of the company." CHAPTER VIII. ON COMPANY DRILL SI GETS TANGLED IN THE MAZES OF THE EVOLUTIONS. "ALL in for company drill!" These words struck the unwilling ears of Co. Q, 200th Ind., the next time Buell halted his army to draw a long breath. "Wish somebody would shoot that durned Orderly," muttered Si Klegg. "For two cents I'd do it myself."