He was hospitably entertained, however, when there was occasion;
but the advent of men bound for the army had become an old story.
Having at last inquired his way to the position occupied by the
Connecticut troops, he was assigned to duty in the same company
with Zeke Watkins, who gave him but a cool reception, and sought
to overawe him by veteran-like airs. At first poor Zeb was awkward
enough in his unaccustomed duties, and no laugh was so scornful as
that of his rival. Young Jarvis, however, had not been many days
in camp before he guessed that Zeke's star was not in the
ascendant. There was but little fighting required, but much
digging of intrenchments, drill, and monotonous picket duty. Zeke
did not take kindly to such tasks, and shirked them when possible.
He was becoming known as the champion grumbler in the mess, and no
one escaped his criticism, not even "Old Put"--as General Putnam,
who commanded the Connecticut quota, was called. Jarvis, on the
other hand, performed his military duties as he had worked the
farm, and rapidly acquired the bearing of a soldier.
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