Captain Manley was struck by the earnestness of the boys' faces, and after a pause he said to the sergeant,-- "That will do, Summers; I will take these lads up to my quarters and speak to them." Then, motioning to the boys to follow him, he re-entered the barracks, and led the way up to his quarters. "Sit down," he said, when they had entered his room. "Now, boys, this is a foolish freak upon your part, which you will regret some day. Of course you have run away from school." "No, sir, we have run away from home," Tom said. "So much the worse," Captain Manley said gravely. "Tell me frankly, why did you do so? No unkindness at home can excuse boys from running away from their parents." "We have none, sir," Tom said. "We have lost them both--our mother many years ago, our father six months. Our only living relation, except a younger sister, is an aunt, who considers us as nuisances, and who, although meaning to do her duty, simply drives us out of our minds." Captain Manley could not resist a smile. "Do you not go to school?" "We did go to a school near, but unfortunately it is broken up." Captain Manley caught a little look of amusement between the boys. "I should not be surprised if you had something to do with its breaking up," he said with a laugh. "But to return to your coming here. There is certainly less reason against your joining than I thought at first, but you are too young." "We are both strong, and are good walkers," Tom said. "But you cannot be much over fifteen," Captain Manley said, "and your brother is younger." "We are accustomed to strong exercise, sir, and can thrash most fellows of our own size." "Very likely," Captain Manley said, "but we can't take that into consideration. You are certainly young for buglers for service work; however, I will go across with you to the orderly-room, and hear what the colonel says." Crossing the barrack-yard, they found the colonel was in and disengaged. "Colonel Tritton," Captain Manley said, "these lads want to enlist as buglers." The colonel looked up and smiled. "They look regular young pickles," he said. "I suppose they have run away from school." "Not from school, colonel. They have lost both parents, and live with an aunt, with whom they don't get on well. There does not seem to be much chance of their being claimed." "You are full young," the colonel said, "and I think you will be sorry, boys, for the step you want to take." "I don't think so, sir," Tom said. "Of course, you don't at present," the colonel said. "However, that is your business. Mind, you will have a rough time of it; you will have to fight your way, you know."