That was a question Jerry could not answer, and he went about the barracks talking with the men, asking who had seen Dick last, and gleaning all about his leave, and that one of the band had seen him going down the High Street that same afternoon. Waiting till Wilkins was away, Jerry made his way to the band-room, where he obtained confirmation of the sergeant's remarks about the flute-case, and here he began to drop dark hints of the vaguest nature. These, however, fell upon fertile soil, and struck root, and shot up into plants at a very rapid rate. In other words, Jerry's hints became solid, and from the band-room went forth the rumour that Dick Smithson had gone down the town, been persuaded to enter one of the low-class public-houses, and had there been robbed and ill-used. Then a private in Lacey's company announced that he had had a similar experience down by the docks, and said that if he had not fought like a savage he would have lost his life. News flies fast in a regiment where the men have so little out of the routine to attract their attention, and, consequently, it was soon the common talk of the barracks that Dick Smithson, of the band, had been "done to death" somewhere in the lower part of the city. That night the rumour reached the mess-room. One of the officers had heard it, and in a few minutes it was the sole topic of conversation. Men talked of the first time they had seen Dick Smithson, and reminded one another of his playing and the strange way in which he had joined the regiment. At last, as the band finished one of the pieces in the evening's programme, the colonel, after a few words with the doctor, sent his servant to tell Wilkins to come to the table; and, upon the bandmaster appearing, the doctor addressed him in a serious tone, but with a humorous twinkle of the eye. "Is this true, Wilkins?" he said. "I beg pardon, sir, is what true?" "That in a fit of jealousy you have tried to pitch young Smithson into the river, to be carried out to sea or to one of Her Majesty's ships, to form the nucleus of a new band?" "Not a word of truth in it, sir, I assure you. Really I--" "Stop a moment, man! You were exceedingly jealous of him." "Really no, sir. I only did what I thought was right to keep the boy from growing too conceited." "Well, of course, pitching him into the river would have that effect; but it strikes me that it will get you into difficulties." "Really, sir--I assure you, sir, if it was the last word I had to utter, sir--I didn't do anything of the kind." "Of course not, Wilkins," said the colonel, quietly; "the doctor is only quizzing you. I cannot believe that you would be guilty of such a dastardly act. But do you think anything of the kind has happened?" "No, sir; I don't think such a thing could have taken place." "I hope not; but you have heard the rumour?" "Yes, sir; the men are talking about nothing else."