useful things to do now and again that would take muscle."

"I am about the same size as most of the rest," replied Harry.

"You look as if you could do quite a lot," laughed the major, as he
walked down the path, leaving behind him a boy who was nearer the
seventh heaven of delight than he had ever been before.

Before the end of the week the colonel came. The boys had their plans
cut and dried. Harry's sister Grace had taken an unusual interest
in them, and had advised them wisely as to uniforms. Major Phelps
seemed interested in them, too, in a way. At least, he called at the
Corwin home more than once and talked to Grace about that and
other things.

Colonel Marker was rather grizzled and of an almost forbidding appearance
to the boys. They feared him whole-heartedly the moment they laid
eyes on him. His voice was gruff and he had a habit of wrinkling his
brows that had at times struck terror into older hearts than those of
the Brighton boys. But he was a very kindly man, nevertheless, in
spite of his bluff exterior.

Major Phelps told him about the eight lads, borrowing, perhaps, some
of Grace Corwin's enthusiasm for the moment, and the colonel was
favorably impressed from the start with what he called "a mighty
fine spirit." He thumped his fist on the table at which he sat
when the major told him of the boys and their hopes, and said
explosively:

"Wish there were more like them in every town out here. We are too