'I don't think much of soldiers,' she said, her nose tilted up in
disdain. 'They're very dirty men, and covered with dust, and they've no
band, nor flags flying, nor nothing.'

If Teddy was disappointed in the look of his heroes, he did not say so;
but Sam remarked, 'I expect they've left the band and the flags in the
town; these are only the lot that they can't put up there.'

Later in the afternoon Teddy made his way to the old elm outside the Hare
and Hounds, where several of the men were resting on the wooden benches,
some with pots of beer, and round whom some of the admiring villagers had
made a little circle.

He pushed his way in with his accustomed fearlessness.

'Please, is Mr. Tim Stokes here?'

The soldiers laughed, and bandied a few jokes on the comrade alluded to.

'What do you want with him, youngster?'

'I want to speak to him.'

'I guess you'll find him under one of the tables in the tap-room; old
Bouncer is pretty dry after a march like we've had to-day.'

There was a roar of laughter at this, but Teddy did not understand the
joke.

'I mustn't go inside the Hare and Hounds,' he said; 'I promised mother I