The advance became slower, the numbers falling from the ranks larger, till in the afternoon a great shout went up in front, and the column halted. The advance-guard had reached the river Bulganak, their halting-place; and, heedless of discipline, the thirst-maddened soldiers rushed forward and buried their faces in the cool, clear waters running between fertile, grassy banks. In due course Jack’s regiment arrived at the water, and both men and horses drank their fill. The Hussars and Light Dragoons, who had formed the advance-guard, had, at the orders of Lord Raglan, crossed the river. Some of the enemy’s cavalry had been seen, and the commander-in-chief, determined to satisfy himself that his army could rest in comparative safety, had gone forward with the cavalry to reconnoitre the position. Jack’s regiment, having assuaged their thirst, ate part of the ration which had been served out to them; then flung themselves on the ground, under the shadow of the trees, to enjoy a nap or a smoke. Jack, having drunk his fill, carrying his lance-cap in his hand, joined a group of trumpeters. ‘Hallo, Jack,’ cried Tom Gallon, ‘who’s been ducking your head?’ “I ducked myself, Tom,’ answered Jack, ‘to cool my mighty brain. Phew, it’s hot!’ Bill Parkes laughed. ‘I remember the first time you ever put on a lance-cap,’ he said, ‘you thought you looked mighty fine.’ ‘And I remember what you said at the time, Bill: “Wait till you’ve worn one for six hours on a broiling hot day.”’ ‘Well, you’ve had your chance to-day,’ laughed Parkes. Jack threw off the heaviest part of his accoutrements and seated himself with his comrades. A group of officers sat just by them, and Jack could not help being struck by the change the campaign had already made in their appearance. The gay uniforms, sodden with rain, stained with mud, and often torn, were tarnished and frayed. Their scabbards and spurs were rusty, and their faces disfigured by beards of many days’ growth. Worse than all, however, was the fact that not one of them had enjoyed a change of linen for a week, for every man had landed in what he stood up in and no more, even the pelisses of the 8th Hussars being left behind on shipboard; nor did the regiment ever see them again, for they went down in Balaclava harbour during the great storm of 14th November. As Jack was looking he observed a staff-officer gallop up to the little group. He spoke hurriedly for a few moments; then Major Willett, commanding the 17th, jumping to his feet, looked over towards the trumpeters, and beckoned to Jack. Seizing his bugle, Jack ran over, buttoning up his jacket on the way. ‘Sound the alarm at once!’ the major cried. Jack rang out the call. ‘What’s up?’ asked Will. ‘Goodness knows!’ replied Jack as he buckled on his sword and ran towards Dainty; ‘but from the haste with which those Hussar officers are making for their own men it’s something pretty urgent, I should think.’