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Every Sunday they were permitted to go there to attend church, the service being conducted by one of their own color. They greatly regretted that the soldiers did not parade on that day, as they missed their opportunities for witnessing military drills.
The blowers carry fresh air to every part of the ship; the breezes which sweep the deck from the North Sea are fresh enough in summer and a little too fresh in winter. There is exercise in the regular drills, supplemented by setting-up exercises. The food is good and no man drinks or eats what he ought not to, as he may on shore.
The drills and route-marches in sun, wind and rain had tanned our flesh to pink and brown, and lit the lamps of health in our eyes. And the whites of those eyes were blue-white. But the doctor, a curt major, said "Strip," and took Doe first. Now, a glance at Doe, when stripped, ought to have satisfied a doctor.
But he had an innate and, perhaps, it may be, an instinctive horror of drills and early rising; a pastime in which the martinets and disciplinarians of the last century were very much given to indulge.
"No, let's talk some more about our department," said Vincent. "Do you think the boys will like this new plan, Bert?" "I guess so. We'll ask 'em, anyhow. And then there's another thing." "What is it?" "I think we ought to have some drills. As it is now some of the boys don't know what to do. They don't pump good, and they don't pass water good. We ought to have more practice."
For each of these days two night drills of two hours each count as a day; the militiaman receives the sum of four shillings, with a slight increase according to his musketry ability. The drill season commences in the middle of March, and from then on till Inspection Day a boiling hot day in June the voice of the drill-sergeant is heard in the land.
"But I can't skip drills and everything for a week!" "Now, don't you worry, Massa Jinks. You're pretty lucky. We've had some men here hurted themselves that had to go home for good, and some of 'em, two or three, never got well, and died. But bless you, you'll soon be all right. Doctor said so." Sam had to get what consolation he could from this.
Every day the steamers brought crowds of visitors to the fort to see their friends in the regiments quartered there, or to witness the drills and parades which were constantly succeeding each other. Among them came many of the people of Pinchbrook, and Tom was delighted by a visit from his whole family.
They need a great deal of harmlessly conducted amusement and do not strive to "keep them quiet." Allow little boys and girls to play together, under proper surveillance, and let them be boisterous if they will; let them romp and run, climb fences, trundle hoops, jump rope, go to dancing school, participate in military drills, go coasting and skating, take swimming lessons, etc.
But since then they have been the first to strike out in a practical way, while we, in France, are still laboring at the Potsdam drills. The greater number of generals who fought in the last wars, under real battle conditions, ask for skirmishers in large units, well supported.
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