As I strode away from the H. Q. lines I cogitated over the new aspect of my affairs; but the thing was done, all my determination of returning home had blown to the deuce and I had signed on for another three years. I felt rather mad, but solaced myself with the thought that anyhow there would be plenty of good fighting in the near future. Of course I had mentioned to the Colonel that my promotion would necessitate Egan’s transfer, and he had at once directed that the worthy Tim should be transferred in that day’s orders, so I wended my way back to my tent to say good-bye to my mates and see to the moving of my kit over to the mounted men’s lines, situated about a mile from the Rangers’ camp. My news was received by my comrades in various ways. Tim’s wild ebullition of joy at the idea I was to be an officer and that he was going to be my own man once more was tempered by the regrets of the others at my leaving them, while old Jack’s pungent remarks, such as “What the hell do yer want to fight aboard a ruddy ’oss for? Ain’t yer legs good enough? Course yer ort to be on the ruddy poop, I know that,” etc., etc., were rumbled out in the best grumbling style, accompanied with his very choicest selection of bad words. Pierre and George were also sorrowful, declaring that the Rangers were losing their best scout, but their lamentations I cut short by slipping a couple of sovereigns into Pierre’s hands, telling him to go to the sutler’s and procure materials for the very best repast he could manage to serve up. This he did, and a wonderful repast it was, so that when it was over, and the farewells said, old Jack himself confessed: “Things did not look so dirty to wind’ard after all,” and insisted on helping Tim to carry our kits over to our new camp, while I mounted my horse and rode over to report myself to my new O.C. CHAPTER IX I JOIN THE TROOPERS I was very kindly received by my brother officers on joining, all of whom were fine fellows, but sadly deficient in their knowledge of drill, so I had to turn to at once and knock them into shape. Our duties chiefly consisted in patrolling, escorting strings of pack-horses or drays, where practicable, loaded with rations, etc., and despatch-riding, the latter a very arduous and dangerous work indeed, of which I shall say more anon, though of course we had to do our share of bush-whacking, when we discarded the breeches and boots for shawls. The troopers were the perfection of irregular mounted men, being taken mostly from young colonial fellows who had been stock-riders, but there was a good leaven of broken-down gentlemen and remittance men, so, taking them altogether, they were a hard-riding, hard-fighting, hard-swearing and hard-drinking crowd.