I only wanted to understand it all; and in the evening I
plied Preston with questions. He explained things to me
patiently.
"I understand," I said, at last, — "I understand what it would
do in war time. But we are not at war, Preston."
"No."
"Nor in the least likely to be."
"We can't tell. It is good to be ready."
"But what do you mean?" I remember saying. "You speak as if we
might be at war. Who is there for us to fight?"
"Anybody that wants putting in order," said Preston. "The
Indians."
"O Preston, Preston!" I exclaimed. "The Indians! when we have
been doing them wrong ever since the white men came here; and
you want to do them more wrong!"
"I want to hinder them from doing us wrong. But I don't care
about the Indians, little Daisy. I would just as lief fight
the Yankees."
"Preston, I think you are very wrong."
"You think all the world is," he said.
We were silent, and I felt very dissatisfied. What was all
this military schooling a preparation for, perhaps? How could
we know.
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