‘I don’t want to frighten you, Jack,’ said that Job’s comforter; ‘but at this moment I’d sooner be in my boots than in yours. I should say some one has spotted an unpipeclayed belt of yours, you’ve got an unfavourable report from riding-school or drill, or you’ve failed to salute some officer, or’---- ‘Oh shut up, Will; you’ll hang me before I’m tried;’ and Jack started off for the trumpet-major’s quarters, being rendered none the easier in his mind by noticing as he left the room the evil grin on Napper’s face. It was with some trepidation that Jack entered the trumpet-major’s quarters in response to the shouted ‘Come in,’ after he had knocked; but the friendly look with which he was greeted did much towards putting him at his ease. ‘Oh Blair,’ said the trumpet-major, ‘I wanted to see you. I’m very pleased at the progress you’ve made--very. So far as your ability to sound is concerned you’re quite fit to take duty with the others, and the riding-master tells me he shall soon dismiss you from the rides. You’ve done very well.’ Jack coloured with pleasure, for he felt that he had made his first step on the road to success. ‘You’ve done so well that I’m going to get you posted to a troop’ said the trumpet-major. ‘Brittain, of D Troop, is going into the band, and I shall send you in his place. You can don the cross-trumpets as soon as you like.’ This news was more than ever agreeable to Jack. D Troop was Captain Norrey’s and Sergeant Barrymore’s, so that Jack felt that he would be amongst those whom he liked best. ‘As you won’t join your troop till next week,’ said the trumpet-major kindly, ‘how would you like a day or two of leave? You’ve got people somewhere near, haven’t you?’ Jack’s heart gave a prodigious leap. ‘I have,’ he replied, ‘and I should like above all things to see them.’ ‘Very well, then. To-day’s Tuesday; I will arrange for you to have from Friday night till next Tuesday. How’ll that do?’ ‘Splendidly.’ ‘That’s all right then. Now, run away.’ Full of delight, Jack went, and on his return every one in his room was glad to hear his news except Napper, who scowled evilly at him. On the following evening Jack, as was the custom amongst the trumpeters when posted to a troop, stood treat to his chums, and there was a great consumption of sausages, jam-rolls, apples, and cocoa. Sergeant Linham, looking in by chance during the evening, drank Jack’s health. Napper came in late and looked daggers at everybody; but no one took any notice of him.