"The question is, my boy, are you a smart young officer, and can I recommend you?" the Colonel asked, being a bit of a wag, as he saw the sudden joy which irradiated the suppliant's face. "I would thank you so much, sir," ejaculated Tom; "I am sure I could be useful to him if you would only recommend me." "Much use you would be, to be sure! I suppose you would teach him the last waltz step, and tell him how to flirt, you dog!" "Oh, sir--you'll oblige me, Colonel, won't you? and do me this favour?" "Well, I don't mind if I do, Tom. You are a young scamp I know, but I've a sort of liking for you, and I'll give you a letter of introduction to Sir Charles. But you must go up to London at once, for he'll be off in a day or two. I daresay you can catch him at that den of thieves, the Horse Guards, or else at his club." "Oh I thank you, sir," said Tom, shaking the old veteran heartily by the hand. "Oh! thank you, Colonel; I'll never forget your kindness." "There, there, my boy--take it easily. And now if you will kindly let me have my arm to myself, I will sit down and write you your letter at once, and also one to the commander-in-chief, which will facilitate your movements." The Colonel then sat down and wrote as he promised; and Tom was off in a jiffey to London. In the joy of going off, he had for a moment forgotten Lizzie, only to remember her with a ten times greater fondness a moment or two later. Being diligent in his explorations, Tom speedily found his new chief, who received him very cordially, and said how very glad he was to be able to do anything for the old Plunger veteran, from whom he had just come. Tom, to his great joy, was appointed one of the aides-de-camp of the general who was going off with the expeditionary force to Abyssinia. He was only just in time, however, for the places had all been filled up. Tom indeed owed his luck to the sudden illness of one of the officers already appointed. What a wonderful thing that Abyssinian Expedition was! The world sees some queer changes in its time. Twenty-eight hundred and fifty years ago the Queen of Sheba paid her celebrated visit to King Solomon at Jerusalem, and here, so many centuries after, we have the children of the Gentiles and the inhabitants of the Isles of the West sallying out and getting them ready to battle against the descendants of the self-same King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba across the waters of the Red Sea. Tom had very few days in which to prepare for his departure. It was now October, and he had to go by the overland route to India first, and then to sail from Bombay with the advance guard of the invading army.