Beadle's Dime Novels No. 119: Blackeyes — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

14 BLACK BYES, “I wish to hear no more of your arguments, sir; you had better start a school for the purpose of teaching ducks to swim. I desire and command that you shall not attempt to educate the men of this force in any pursuits or habits that are not authorized and ordained by our army regulations and books of tactics. You have already done enough harm in that re- | spect. Ihave also observed that you have lately neglected to | wear your uniform ; in fact, that you are ‘gradually adopting or returning to the dress of the backwoodsmen and ragged rangers whom you have been praising so highly.” Bg es “J thought, sir, that when I was not exactly on duty,.. and when we had entered the heart’ of the- wilderness, I might be permitted to wear a dress that was more convenient and more suitable to the country in which we aré operat- ". ing.” ‘ “The army regulations. give no such permission. Your - conduct in that respect is subvyertive of good order and” discipline, and it must be reformed. TI have also noticed that you have got into the habit of cattying a rifle and a sheath-knife, together with a powder-horn and a bullet- pouch. No such weapons and implements are ‘prescribed by the authorities, and consequently they are not allowed.” “ Nevertheless, sir, they are very useful, both: for fighting and for foraging, and I wish that all our officers were armed in the same fashion, for I suppose that we will have little use for our regulation swords in conflicts with the In- dians.” . | “I wish to hear no more of your half-fledged thoughts and absurd suppositions. JI am angry whenever I. remember the very valuable information and excellent advice that you gave me concerniug this route, and when I see my train blocked up and my horses stumbling over these infernal rocks and into these abominable gullies.” “Tt is the best, if not the only route to the Salt Lake. We can not expect to find roads in this section.” -: “ But, you called it a road, and that rascally vagabond of a — trapper, whom you picked up at Taos, said that it was a first- rate road.” * : “Tt is no tu and is well su Z mpike, but it is a good route for emigrants, Pplied with grass and wood and water, and Cconmic sxoolks.comn)