life in comparison. Once you have learned your drill and know your
duty you have an easy time of it. Most of your time's your own.
When you are on a campaign you eat, drink, and are jolly at other
folks' expense; and if you do get wet when you are on duty, you
can generally manage to turn in dry when you are relieved. It's not
a bad life, my boy, I can tell you; and if you do your duty well,
and you are steady, and civil, and smart, you are sure to get your
stripes, especially if you can read and write, as I suppose you
can."

Jack nodded with a half smile.

"In that case," the sergeant said, "you may even in time get to
be an officer. I can't read nor write--not one in twenty can--
but those as can, of course, has a better chance of promotion if
they distinguish themselves. I should have got it last year in the
Low Country, and Marlborough himself said, 'Well done!' when I,
with ten rank and file, held a bridge across a canal for half an
hour against a company of French. He sent for me after it was over,
but when he found I couldn't read or write he couldn't promote
me; but he gave me a purse of twenty guineas, and I don't know but
what that suited me better, for I am a deal more comfortable as
a sergeant than I should have been as an officer; but you see, if
you had been in my place up you would have gone."

The wind fell in the afternoon, and the cutter dropped her anchor
as the tide was running against her. At night Jack Stilwell and the
others who had accepted their fate slept with the troops on board
instead of returning to rejoin their companions in the hold. Jack
was extremely glad of the change, as there was air and ventilation,