eakfast;
while the major chatted over a few matters connected with the discipline
of the troop and the behaviour of some of the men.

"Well," said Brace, as soon as the major had gone; for he jumped up
suddenly on receiving a message from his own quarters, leaving his
half-eaten curry and a newly filled cup of coffee.

"The general down," he cried. "Bring Vincent over this evening for an
hour or two."

"Well," said Brace, "how are the spirits now?"

"Oh, better," I said, smiling; "but I do wish I was more clever."

"Rubbish! Don't be impatient. A soldier can't learn his duties in a
month; and when he has learned them, it requires incessant practice to
keep up to the mark; and will need," he continued sadly, "to work hard;
and, by the way, pay all the attention you can to your sword practice
and fencing. I would not miss any of the pistol practice either."

I looked at him curiously, for there seemed to be a meaning underlying
his words.

"You need not worry about the riding-school; you can't help getting on
well in that. What are you looking at?"

"You don't think there is going to be war, do you?"

"I think a soldier ought always to be ready in case there is," he
replied evasively.

"Yes; but not war out here. You don't think Russia means--"

"Hallo! Who has been talking to you about Russia? No, Vincent, my boy,
I do not; but I should not be surprised if we have a bit of trouble in
one of the provinces before long. I hope not; but we are always having
a little affair with some native prince. However, if we do, it may not
affect us. Our troop may be a thousand miles away. India is a big
place."

"Yes, and isn't it wonderful that so few Englishmen should keep so many
millions of the natives in subjection?"

"In some respects, yes, my lad; in others, no. The great power comes
from the fact that India embraces many nations who do not all think
alike, neither are they of the same religion; and hence if we had
trouble with one nation, the possibility is that we could bring some of
the others to fight upon our side. But matters are not as they should
be, Vincent; and I cannot help having forebodings now and then. We do
not treat the people as we should. There is a little too much of the
iron heel of the despot on their necks."

I thought of Barton's treatment of the syce, and of many similar
incidents wherever I had been since I came out, and then forgot every
one but the fact that the post h