George at the Fort

George at the Fort, by Harry Castlemon

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Title: George at the Fort Life Among the Soldiers
Author: Harry Castlemon

Release Date: June 2, 2007 [eBook #21664]
Language: English
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Roughing It Series.
GEORGE AT THE FORT;
Or,
Life Among the Soldiers.
by
HARRY CASTLEMON,
Author of "The Gunboat Series," "The Sportsman's Club Series," "The Boy Trapper Series," Etc.

[Illustration]
[Illustration]

Philadelphia: Porter & Coates.
* * * * * *
FAMOUS CASTLEMON BOOKS.
Each volume handsomely illustrated and bound in fine extra cloth, black and gold stamp. 16mo.
GUNBOAT SERIES. 6 vols.
FRANK THE YOUNG NATURALIST. FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. FRANK BEFORE VICKSBURG. FRANK ON THE PRAIRIE. FRANK IN THE WOODS. FRANK ON A GUNBOAT.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES. 3 vols.
FRANK AMONG THE RANCHEROS. FRANK AT DON CARLOS' RANCHO. FRANK IN THE MOUNTAINS.
SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES. 3 vols.
THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB IN THE SADDLE. THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AFLOAT. THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AMONG THE TRAPPERS.
FRANK NELSON SERIES. 3 vols.
SNOWED UP; OR, THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB IN THE MOUNTAINS. FRANK NELSON IN THE FORECASTLE. THE BOY TRADERS; OR, THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AMONG THE BOERS.
BOY TRAPPER SERIES. 3 vols.
THE BURIED TREASURE; OR, OLD JORDAN'S HAUNT. THE BOY TRAPPER; OR, HOW DAVE FILLED THE ORDER. THE MAIL-CARRIER.
ROUGHING IT SERIES. 3 vols.
GEORGE IN CAMP; OR, LIFE ON THE PLAINS. GEORGE AT THE WHEEL; OR, LIFE IN A PILOT HOUSE. GEORGE AT THE FORT; OR, LIFE AMONG THE SOLDIERS.
GO AHEAD SERIES. 3 vols.
GO AHEAD; OR, THE FISHER BOY'S MOTTO. NO MOSS; OR, THE CAREER OF A ROLLING STONE. TOM NEWCOMBE; OR, THE BOY OF BAD HABITS.
Other Volumes in Preparation.
* * * * * *
Copyright, 1882, by Porter & Coates.

CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
DISCONTENTED RECRUITS 5
CHAPTER II.
AN OLD FRIEND TURNS UP 24
CHAPTER III.
BOB'S FIRST COMMAND 45
CHAPTER IV.
A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING 66
CHAPTER V.
THE NEW SCOUT 90
CHAPTER VI.
AN UNEXPECTED GUEST 113
CHAPTER VII.
HOW BRYANT WAS CAPTURED 137
CHAPTER VIII.
GEORGE AT THE FORT 159
CHAPTER IX.
WHAT GEORGE KNEW ABOUT TRAILING 179
CHAPTER X.
HOW GEORGE SAVED THE CAMP 200
CHAPTER XI.
TELEGRAPHING BY SMOKES 222
CHAPTER XII.
ANOTHER FEATHER FOR BOB'S CAP 242
CHAPTER XIII.
HE WINS IT FAIRLY 262
CHAPTER XIV.
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE 'BRINDLES'!" 282
CHAPTER XV.
MORE BAD LUCK FOR MR. WENTWORTH 303
CHAPTER XVI.
CONCLUSION 327

ILLUSTRATIONS
AN UNEXPECTED GUEST facing page 6
STORMING THE DUG-OUT " " 84
BOB CAPTURES THE DESERTER " " 146
TELEGRAPHING BY SMOKE " " 280

GEORGE AT THE FORT.
CHAPTER I.
DISCONTENTED RECRUITS.
"Captain, this thing must be stopped. I say it must be stopped, even if we have to resort to summary measures. We must find out who the ringleaders are, and make an example of them."
The speaker was Colonel Brown, the commanding officer of Fort Lamoine. As he uttered these emphatic words he slammed a paper-weight down upon a pile of reports which the adjutant had just brought in, and, settling back in his chair, looked sharply at the officer who stood in front of the table. The red sash the latter wore around his waist proclaimed him to be the officer of the day.
"How many did you say there were in the party who deserted last night?" continued the colonel.
"Seven, sir," replied the officer of the day, "and there is a list of their names. They took no horses with them, but they each secured a carbine and a box of cartridges."
"That makes thirty men who have deserted since I took command of this post," said the colonel, angrily, "and not more than half of them have been captured.--Orderly, tell Corporal Owens I want to see him. He is one of the few non-commissioned officers in the command whom I am not afraid to trust.--Captain, have six picked men, with two days' rations, detailed to go with him in pursuit of these deserters. He can find and arrest them if anybody can."
[Illustration: An Unexpected Guest.]
The officer of the day closed the door of the colonel's head-quarters behind him, and in a few minutes the orderly opened it again to admit a sturdy young soldier, about eighteen years old, who wore upon his arms the yellow chevrons of a corporal of cavalry. This was Bob Owens--the boy who stole the mail-carrier's hard-earned money and ran away from home to enjoy it. He had not changed much in appearance. He had grown taller and his shoulders were broader, but any one who had known him before