“You were a-axing of me, sir, I think, about the cellybrated battle of Laswarrie, in which we—that is, the ridg’ment I then belonged to—was present, under Lifttennant Gineral Lord Lake; yes, that was pretty near the stiffest business we had. There was the battalions of the French gineral, Munseer Donothing (Duderneg): and very good troops they was, though not so good as our Seapies. Hulloa!” he exclaimed, breaking off in his story, and looking towards the tumbler, which the bearer was busy in filling, “what’s this here man about?—he’s a-givin me all the bottle of brandy; here come, you must put some of this back.” “No, no—nonsense, sergeant,” said the liberal donor, “drink it all—it won’t hurt you.” This was just what Sergeant Giblett wanted. “Well, thankye, sir; but I’m afraid its over strong. Gin’lemen, here’s towards your very good healths.” So saying, Giblett drained off the dark potation—a regular “north-wester”—set down the empty glass, and took his leave, reserving his “yarn” for another time. CHAPTER XVII. Under the able tuition of Sergeant Giblett I became, in a few days, sufficiently a proficient in the mysteries of marching, &c., to allow of my falling in with Lieut. Rattleton’s company, the left grenadiers,[29] and it was consequently arranged, with the concurrence of the adjutant, that I should make my _début_ on parade when next the battalion was out for exercise. On the day previous to that event taking place, after tiffin, a sepoy orderly brought in the regimental and station orders; and Tom, after reading them, directed my attention particularly to a paragraph in the former, which ran thus: “The regiment will parade for exercise to-morrow morning, at a quarter after gun-fire, furnished with ten rounds of blank cartridge per man.” “There! my sub,” said Rattleton; “to-morrow you will see a little service, and smell gunpowder for the first time in your life.” “You’re wrong there,” said I; “you seem to have forgotten my recent engagement with the Dacoits; why sir,” said I, affecting to bristle up, “though you do command a company I have seen far more active service than you have. A siege—a pursuit—a rout—and a retreat, are pretty well, I take it, for an ensign of two months’ standing.” “Ha! ha! Well, that’s true, to be sure,” rejoined my friend, laughing; “you have, indeed, seen balls fired with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and against the peace of our sovereign lord the king—but I would sink the _bolt_, Frank, when I talked of my Junglesoor exploits. But, seriously, you must get all your military trappings ready overnight, and I’ll see that you are called in good time in the morning.”