Suddenly Sergeant Linham appeared before them. ‘Ha, hum!’ he snorted. ‘Here, you 8th Hussar man, what are you doing here? The men are to keep in their own lines to-day; general order.’ And he blew violently down his nose. ‘All right, sargint darlint,’ said Larry, ‘though ye needn’t blow yer nose off. I came over from our colonel to ask how was the thrumpeter who was hurt yesterday.’ ‘Oh indeed, ha, yes! thoughtful and kind, very. But you’d better go. Right-about turn! Quick march!’ Then to Jack he said hurriedly, ‘Mr Leland and some friends are on their way to see you. Pull down your jacket, and your cap’s not right--so; that’s better. You ought to be in full-dress, you know. ‘Pon my word, the service is going to the dogs, absolutely to the dogs. I want to know what the---- ‘Shun!’ Jack and Larry at once stood up and saluted as Cornet Leland, in uniform, with a tall, white-headed old gentleman and a young and very handsome lady, leading a dear little curly-haired boy by the hand, suddenly appeared. ‘Good-afternoon, Blair. How are you feeling?’ asked the cornet, who was not much older than Jack himself. ‘Much better, thank you, sir. I was only shaken yesterday. I shall be able to march to-morrow with the regiment.’ ‘That’s right.--This is the trumpeter whose horse bolted yesterday.--Blair, this is my uncle, Colonel George Leland. The little boy who almost got under your horse’s hoofs yesterday is his grandson.’ Jack turned very red, saluted, and began to apologise. But the old colonel cut him short, said some most complimentary things to him, in which the lady joined, and chatted for some time. He saw at once that Jack was many cuts above the ordinary ‘boy-trumpeter,’ and did not attempt to offer him money. He said, however, that he knew Jack’s colonel well, and that he would see that his action should not go unnoticed. Looking at Larry, the colonel recognised him as the Hussar who had helped to stop Jack’s horse, and after complimenting him on his plucky deed dropped a couple of sovereigns into Larry’s palm. ‘May the ten blessings fall upon ye and yers, colonel,’ cried the delighted Larry, saluting him. Then wishing Jack good-bye, he said he would run over in the morning and see him before his regiment marched off. On his way back to the lines of the Hussars, Larry had to pass the large canteen, and Sergeant Linham went with him to see he didn’t ‘lose his way.’ Soon after the Lelands had gone, a basket of fruit arrived for ‘Trumpeter Blair,’ and Will Hodson came up just at the same time. Will had to chaff Jack about this; but Jack told him not to be a donkey, and related the history of the chestnut burrs which Larry O’Callaghan had left with him. Will’s face grew scarlet with rage. ‘This is too much,’ he said. ‘It’s murder, no less. It must be reported to the colonel. Napper must go; we won’t mix with him.’