His contrasting comrade was equally in military garb--even more so, by the additional article of a cloth forage-cap. His was also an undress uniform; but, though of very similar cut to the other, and resembling it in the quality of the material, the colour was different. It was sky-blue, turned whitey with wear--the buttons of the jacket being of lead, and the facings of white worsted tape. It was a better fit than the green uniform; and its wearer had evidently some conceit in the style of it--as was evidenced by the jacket being carefully buttoned from waist to throat, and the forage-cap set jauntily on "three hairs." The little man was an "infantry." His horizontal diameter was twice that of his tall companion of the rifles; and in the rounded contour of his body, not an angle was apparent. His garments were quite filled by his body, arms and legs--so that there was not a wrinkle to be seen anywhere. It was a form usually styled "dapper." His face was also of the rotund shape--the features all tolerably regular, with the exception of the nose--that, like the nasal organ of his comrade, was _nez retrousse_--the turn-up being infinitely more pronounced. The expression was equally indicative of good-nature and good-fellowship--as the apple-like bloom of his cheeks, and the ochreous tinge upon the tip of the nose, sufficiently testified. Cheeks, lips, and chin were beardless--with the exception of a thick stubble that had lately sprung up; but some well-greased rings of a darkish colour ruffing out under the rim of the forage-cap, showed that the "infantry" was not insensible to the pride of hair. Neither in regard to him had I made a mistaken conjecture. Another old acquaintance and comrade-in-arms--the redoubtable Patrick O'Tigg--a true son of the "Sad." The two worthies, when first seen, were seated as described--both engaged in a very similar occupation--cooking. It was--by the most simple process--that of the _roti_. Each held in his hand a long sapling, upon the end of which a piece of red meat was impaled; and this, projected over the fire, was fast blackening in the blaze. More of the same meat--buffalo-beef, it appeared--was seen in the wheelbarrow; its other freight being one or two greasy bags, a brace of knapsacks, a cartouche box and belt, two ordnance spades, with the guns--a "regulation" rifle and musket--lying across the top of the load. It was evident from this collection that the men were deserters; that they had armed and equipped themselves at the expense of the quartermaster. Perhaps the paymaster had been in arrears with them; and they had adopted this ready and effectual method of wiping out the score? My only wonder was at not seeing a brace of _branded_ horses along with them; but in all probability, on the day--or night--of their departure, the stable sentry had been doing his duty.