"Then hoo d’ye get stripes?" "Some chaps get made lance-corporal for bein’ smert; ithers get it for giein’ the colour-sergint ten bob. An’ some get the stripe for makin’ up tae the officer." "But that’s no richt, Ginger?" "Naethin’s richt in the sodgers. Ye’re no’ supposed tae think. If ye think owre much they’ll pit ye in the nick for insubordination. That’s whut they ca’ Disceeplin. If ye waant tae get on in the Mileeshy, kid ye’re daft, an’ gie the salaam tae everybody. That’s hoo tae get a staff job." CHAPTER V. CANTEEN YARNS. _The_ unwritten laws of the Glesca Mileeshy were as rigid as the etiquette of the Brigade of Guards. The most important was that which compelled recruits to "stand their hand," or, in plain English, give free drinks all round. This to the cultured instinct may seem a somewhat coarse enactment, but to an old Militia hand, possessed of an Indian thirst, it was all-important and always demanded. The recruit’s first pay-day was usually selected for this purpose. Pay-day in the Militia, I may say, is just a sort of Dante’s Inferno in miniature. And in the times of Spud Tamson the weekly pay amounted to one shilling per day. This would not keep a millionaire in matches, but it was sufficient to lure to the barracks’ gate the official and unofficial wives of this regiment, as well as to rouse in the breasts of their noble lovers dreams of foaming ale and nights of song and story. Just as German students have their beer clubs and drinking bouts, so did this regiment possess its boosing schools and captains. This was a weird system. Each company had a school, and on pay-day every man paid so much to the captain. The captain divided this money over the days of the week, and thus ensured that all had liquid refreshment till the next pay-day came round. The captain, of course, had other duties. He chaired all meetings in the canteen, maintained law and order, and, more important, he secured patrons possessed of unlimited cash and willing hearts. The recruit, of course, was the most important. A youngster deemed it an honour to sup with those veterans of "Models" and wars, and for the privilege was content to disgorge. Spud was therefore inveigled into one of these schools, and in true Tamson style called for "pints o’ the best." For this act he was made the guest of the evening, and so long as his pay lasted the old guard were content to listen to his blethers with all the deference born of thirst and cunning.