"Joking apart, though," said Mr. Riley, ignoring the fun of the ensign, "Tom'll be a loss in an office. Just imagine our friend perched on a high stool battling with facts and figures, when he's shown he's capable of battling with people. Tom, I call it a downright sin. If you were my brother I'd say 'Go hang' to the office." "Hear, hear!" cried Jack. "If Tom'd just give it up for a time and come along with us, why, I'd----" "You?" interrupted Mr. Riley, with a smile of incredulity; for though Jack was undoubtedly dashing and gallant enough, he lacked the stamina and serious thought of one who leads. "I," repeated the incorrigible ensign, "_I_--with a capital to it, please--I'd make the dear boy a general before he knew what was happening." There was a roar of laughter at that, a roar which brought the troopers to a sitting posture, their fingers on their carbines. And then a smile was exchanged amongst them. "_Parbleu!_ but these English are proper fellows," said one to his comrade. "They come to us as prisoners, and we see at once that they are good comrades. They fall into the same trap with us too, and, having received arms, act as if they were French and not English. Now, one of them having saved the lives of all here, and having brought us to a nest which may be described as that of a hornet, they laugh and joke and make merry. _Ma foi!_ but these English are too good to fight with. It is the rascals of Spaniards we should engage with." "Hear 'em!" grunted the rifleman Howeley, stretched near his comrade Andrews. "That 'ere Mr. Jack's a givin' lip to the naval orficer. Ten ter one he's sayin' as how the British army's better nor the navy. Equal, I says, all the time, though the army's my choice. Mate, who's this Mr. Clifford? What's his corps? He's a smart 'un." His mouth went agape when the worthy Andrews informed him that Tom was merely a civilian, a class upon which Howeley had, in his own particular lordly way, been rather apt to look down. "Civilian!" he gasped. "Strike me! But----" "He's led us grandly. He's dropped into the post of commander as if he had been trained for it, as if it were his by right. I know all that," declared Andrews. "Tell you, my lad, he'd make a proper soldier." Meanwhile Tom had faced the naval lieutenant eagerly. "You think I'd do as an officer, sir?" he asked. "Indeed I do," came the answer. "A regular could not have done better than you have done. You'll be a loss----" "To the army," burst in the irrepressible Jack, grinning widely. "To either service," said Mr. Riley seriously. "Then, sir, I shall ask to join the army," declared our hero. "I seem to have been meant for it. This is the second time that my efforts to reach an office have been foiled. I shall attempt to obtain a commission; then I'll see what can be done to help Jack to capture Boney and turn the French out of the Peninsula."