by any Corp'ral, but I'm - but I don't think it's fair, Sir, for a
civilian to come an' talk over a man in the Army."

A second shout of laughter shook the Orderly-room, but the Colonel
was grave.

"What sort of characters have these boys?" he asked of the
Regimental Sergeant-Major.

"Accordin' to the Bandmaster, Sir," returned that revered official
- the only soul in the Regiment whom the boys feared - "they do
everything but lie, Sir."

"Is it like we'd go for that man for fun, Sir?" said Lew, pointing
to the plaintiff.

"Oh, admonished - admonished!" said the Colonel testily, and when
the boys had gone he read the Bazar-Sergeant's son a lecture on
the sin of unprofitable meddling, and gave orders that the
Bandmaster should keep the Drums in better discipline.

"If either of you come to practice again with so much as a scratch
on your two ugly little faces," thundered the Bandmaster, "I'll
tell the Drum-Major to take the skin off your backs. Understand
that, you young devils."

Then he repented of his speech for just the length of time that
Lew, looking like a seraph in red worsted embellishments, took the
place of one of the trumpets - in hospital - and rendered the echo
of a battle-piece. Lew certainly was a musician, and had often in