I never had it in my heart to blame them much, poor fellows, for every human beings wants and needs some sort of recreation and jovial excitement.
Captain Corliss said to Jack one day, in my presence, "I had a fine batch of recruits come in this morning." "That's lovely," said I; "what kind of men are they?
Any good cooks amongst them ?" (for I was getting very tired of Smith).
Captain Corliss smiled a grim smile.

"What do you think the United States Government enlists men for ?" said he; "do you think I want my company to be made up of dish-washers ?" He was really quite angry with me, and I concluded that I had been too abrupt, in my eagerness for another man, and that my ideas on the subject were becoming warped.

I decided that I must be more diplomatic in the future, in my dealings with the Captain of C company.
The next day, when we went to breakfast, whom did we find in the dining-room but Bowen! Our old Bowen of the long march across the Territory! Of Camp Apache and K company! He had his white apron on, his hair rolled back in his most fetching style, and was putting the coffee on the table.
"But, Bowen," said I, "where--how on earth--did you--how did you know we--what does it mean ?" Bowen saluted the First Lieutenant of C company, and said: "Well, sir, the fact is, my time was out, and I thought I would quit.

I went to San Francisco and worked in a miners' restaurant" (here he hesitated), "but I didn't like it, and I tried something else, and lost all my money, and I got tired of the town, so I thought I'd take on again, and as I knowed ye's were in C company now, I thought I'd come to MacDowell, and I came over here this morning and told old Smith he'd better quit; this was my job, and here I am, and I hope ye're all well--and the little boy ?" Here was loyalty indeed, and here was Bowen the Immortal, back again! And now things ran smoothly once more.

Roasts of beef and haunches of venison, ducks and other good things we had through the winter.
It was cool enough to wear white cotton dresses, but nothing heavier.