I suppose my replies were satisfactory, all being on technical matters connected with field-gunnery, but what it all meant, unless I was to be promoted, I could not tell. At last the officer who seemed to be the head, turned to me. "Look here, Lieutenant Vincent," he said; "this sharp examination is due to the fact that some pressure has been brought to bear, to have you transferred to the horse artillery." I turned scarlet with excitement. "Well, sir, we naturally resent this, as we are proud of our horse service, and do not want some lout with interest to back him, foisted upon us. It would be degrading, but I tell you frankly that we are favourably impressed." "Thank you, sir," I said. "We have carefully gone into your antecedents. We find that you are the son of a distinguished officer in the Queen's service; that your career at Brandscombe was excellent, and we learn nothing but good of you in connection with your year's work here." I bowed. "Of course, we push you forward reluctantly, for it is a great honour to such a youth as you are. Why, you will be the youngest officer in the horse artillery." "I am young, sir," I said, humbly, but with my heart beating fast. "And there is another thing before this is settled. What about riding?" "I can ride anything, sir," I said eagerly. "Indeed!" "I have hunted a great deal at home." "Ah, well, I suppose we must give way, and I hope you will prove worthy of your promotion to so gallant a corps. By the way, you know Captain Brace?" "Oh yes, sir," I replied. "Yes; he speaks very highly of you. So you shall go on probation with his troop at Rambagh." I tried to speak, but no words came. "Which means, Mr Vincent," said another of the old officers, "that if you prove yourself a soldier of spirit you will stay." I hardly knew what followed, and soon after I was dismissed, to go and find Brace, who welcomed me with outstretched hands. "I am very glad, Vincent," he said, "very glad indeed. Come along with me, and I'll introduce you to Major Lacey, and the other officers of your new corps." CHAPTER SIX. "You miserable, ugly, lazy nigger, take that, and that, and that." There was the sound of blows at each _that_, and then a volley of abuse as I neared the officers' quarters, and every word and blow came through the open windows. "Confound you! do you think I keep you to do nothing but sleep? I'll have my horses look better than any one else's, and they look worse," came clearly; and there were more blows, while a group of white-clothed syces, two of whom held horses, looked at one another, and I saw that their faces wore a troubled aspect, as they whispered as soon as the English sentry on guard by the gateway turned his back to march steadily in the shade to the end of his beat, but as soon as he faced round they stood like bronze statues.