Faye entered upon his new duties at guard mounting this
morning, and I scarcely breathed until the whole thing was over and
the guard was on its way to the guardhouse! It was so silly, I knew,
to be afraid that Faye might make a mistake, for he has mounted the
guard hundreds of times while post adjutant. But here it was
different. I knew that from almost every window that looked out on the
parade ground, eyes friendly and eyes envious were peering to see how
the new regimental adjutant conducted himself, and I knew that there
was one pair of eyes green from envy and pique, and that the least
faux-pas by Faye would be sneered at and made much of by their owner.
But Faye made no mistake, of course. I knew all the time that it was
quite impossible for him to do so, as he is one of the very best
tacticians in the regiment--still, it is the unexpected that so often
happens.
The band and the magnificent drum major, watching their new commander
with critical eyes, were quite enough in themselves to disconcert any
man. I never told you what happened to that band once upon a time! It
was before we came to the regiment, and when headquarters were at Fort
Dodge, Kansas. Colonel Mills, at that time a captain, was in command.
It had been customary to send down to the river every winter a detail
of men from each company to cut ice for their use during the coming
year.
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