"
Peter asked his advice, bought Indian clubs, dumb-bells, and
boxing-gloves, and under Dennis's tutelage began to learn the art of
self-defence. He was rather surprised, at the end of two months, to find
how much flesh he had taken off, how much more easily he moved, how much
more he was eating, and how much more he was able to do, both mentally
and physically.
"It seems as if somebody had oiled my body and brain," he told Dennis.
Dennis let him into another thing, by persuading him to join the militia
regiment most patronized by the "sixth," and in which Dennis was already
a sergeant. Peter received a warm welcome from the regiment, for Dennis,
who was extremely popular, had heralded his fame, and Peter's physical
strength and friendly way did the rest. Ogden Ogden laughed at him for
joining a "Mick" regiment, and wanted to put Peter into the Seventh.
Peter only said that he thought his place was where he was.
Society did not see much of Peter this winter. He called on his friends
dutifully, but his long visits to Albany, his evenings with Dennis, and
his drill nights, interfered badly with his acceptance of the
invitations sent him.
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