Jack had not the faintest notion of what the trumpet-major meant. The latter picked up a trumpet lying on a chair, and handing it to Jack said, ‘Now, put your lips together and try and sound that.’ Jack took the trumpet, drew a long breath, and blew with all his might, making no sound at all. ‘Squeeze your lips and make an action with your tongue as though you were trying to spit a bit of cotton-wool off it into the mouthpiece,’ said the trumpet-major. Jack, with a smile, did as he was bidden, and at the third or fourth attempt succeeded in making a most unearthly sound. ‘Capital, capital!’ said the trumpet-major, rubbing his hands; ‘in three months we shall have you sounding on the square.’ ‘I think he’ll do,’ said Barrymore gleefully. ‘First-class,’ agreed the trumpet-major.--‘What’s your full name?’ ‘John Harrington Blair.’ ‘Are you perfectly willing to serve the Queen for twelve years?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Have you ever been injured in such a way as to unfit you for service?’ ‘No.’ ‘Of course you’ve never served in the Royal Artillery, Engineers, Cavalry, or Infantry?’ ‘No.’ ‘And you do not belong to the Militia?’ ‘No.’ ‘Come along over to the Orderly Room,’ said the trumpet-major; ‘we shall find the regimental there.’ The three departed, and in the Orderly Room, beside the clerks, Jack saw the regimental sergeant-major, the man who, though not a commissioned officer, after the colonel and adjutant is the most important personage in a cavalry regiment. The regimental was one of the few men in the regiment who wore a decoration, besides which he was a fine, soldierly-looking fellow, with a pair of whiskers that were the envy of all the subalterns in the corps. The trumpet-major promptly stated his business, and the regimental produced an attestation paper which one of the clerks filled up as Jack answered the questions. Then he was put under the standard. ‘Five feet six full; put him down five six and a quarter,’ called out the regimental, as he adjusted the standard above Jack’s head; ‘chest thirty-five,’ he went on, ‘complexion fair, hair brown, eyes hazel.’ Then to Jack, ‘Open your mouth,’ and concluded, ‘Teeth sound.’ ‘You can get him before the doctor this morning, Joyce,’ said the regimental, ‘and then we’ll swear him in. You’ve got a fine lad there.’ ‘Now, Jack,’ said Barrymore as they crossed the square, ‘you’ll soon be as much a soldier as I am. The trumpet-major will take charge of you for the present, and when you’ve been before the doctor come over to my quarters.’ Jack accompanied the trumpet-major to his room, and later on was taken before the doctor, where he was thoroughly examined and pronounced fit to serve her Majesty. ‘You’re now due to a day’s pay,’ said the trumpet-major. ‘By the way, how are you off for money--do you want any?’ ‘No, I’ve got several shillings, thanks.’