Page:On to Pekin.djvu/29

Rh 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.