Six Months in the Ranks; Or, the Gentleman Private [By E.C.G. Murray].

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1881 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. A FREE KIT. I Was startled out of my first slumber by a heavy bump on my cot, and awoke to find Bob Wilde and somebody else cursing and fighting. It was pitch dark, but I could guess that Bob had caught his antagonist by the throat, and was shaking him like a rat. Then there was a thud like the falling of a mallet upon raw beef, and with a savage oath and cry of pain the invisible combatant beat a retreat, his bare feet pattering on the boards. The fight had not made much noise, but it partially aroused the bombardier. What the deuce are you doing there? he droned. None of that larking here, or I'll put you in the guardroom. But upon this he turned over and went to sleep again. What's happened? I asked in a whisper of Bob, thinking he and the other man had had a purely personal quarrel. It's a chap been trying to prig your things, answered Bob. Just see if they're safe. I groped under my pillow, and felt that my watch and purse were gone; but searching lower, my hand touched them on the floor. Who did that? I inquired, in dismay. I dunno; it warn't one of those chaps that came down with us. But I scored his mug for 'im, and I'll know him to'morrar. Well, he's a cool hand, I must say. But I'm very much obliged to you, Wilde. I'm your mate, chummy, and nobody shall come faking among your things. But it's all square now; he won't come back again, and we can go to sleep. This was all very well; but it is not pleasant to know that one is sleeping in a room with a thief, and I could not imitate the easy philosophy of Bob, who snoozed straight off, as though nothing unusual had occurred. I lay on my back trembling, not from fear, but in sickened disgust at the degrading position in which I had brought myself by my folly. I wished th...