pils
laughing, and this was the signal for me to hurry out of the stiff
embroidered uniform as rapidly as I could.

But that night, when I went up to bed!

Well, I was very young then; and I suppose any boy of my age would have
been just as proud of his new uniform, all suggestive as it was of sword
and flashing steel, trampling horses, and spirit-stirring trumpet and
band.

My candle was a long time before it went out that night, but even then I
tried to salve my conscience--to make myself believe that it was not all
vanity, for I said that the things wanted trying on, and the buttons and
buttonholes were stiff. But at last everything was neatly folded up
again and put away, and I lay down to sleep and dream of my new career.
Somehow I only saw one side of a soldier's life just then. Perhaps if I
could have had the slightest idea of the horrors and dangers through
which I should have to pass, I might have shrunk away appalled, and been
glad to have taken to some more peaceful career.

CHAPTER THREE.

The good-byes were said, and I was sent off with a ringing cheer by my
old companions. My luggage had gone to the ship days before, and I had
only a couple of tin cases to take with me in the cab when I reached
London and was driven to the docks. Here, after going astray several
times, I at last found the great towering-sided _Jumna_, and went on
board with my belongings.

Everything was in confusion, for provisions were still being taken on
board along with passengers' luggage; and it was some time before I
could find any one in the busy crowd which thronged the deck, to show me
my cabin, which, to my disgust, I found contained a second berth and
several articles of luggage labelled, "Captain Brace, Calcutta," and in
smaller letters, "Cabin; wanted on voyage."

"Not much room for two," I thought, as my own luggage was brought in,
and I found by the number of my berth that I was to sleep on the
shelf-like bed above that on which a portion of the captain's luggage
lay.

Then, wondering what he would be like; whether he would be agreeable, or
disposed to look down upon me as a boy, I went back on deck, and stood
about watching the busy scene, and learning which was the quarter-deck,
steerage, forecastle, and the like. By virtue of being an officer, I
found myself at liberty to go where I pleased, and noted which were
passengers and which were leave-taking friends.

Then I had a good look at the officers