es suddenly rested upon
Brumpton, who, looking wonderfully fat, shiny, and happy, sat back, with
his jacket unbuttoned, pumping away at the huge brass instrument, whose
coils he nursed at his breast while he boomed and burred and brought
forth bass notes of the deepest and richest quality.

Then Brumpton's smooth, round face grew dim, and in its place there was
the haughty, self-satisfied young officer, proud of his regimentals and
scornfully gazing at the young bandsman as he passed.

Dick could bear it no longer; he felt that he must get back into the
open air, and to some place where he could be in peace while he made up
his mind what to do.

The next minute his mind did not want making up. He had come to a
determination; for, feeling that he would never be able to rest until he
had got rid of the idea of the officer he had met being his cousin Mark,
he set off with the intention of questioning some of the men of the
incoming regiment about their officers.

He started, and had just got outside the door of the band-room, when he
ran against Wilkins, who turned upon him sharply--

"Now, sir! don't run away; I am going to try over that grand march."

"Back directly, sir!" cried Dick; and, to the bandmaster's indignation,
he was off as hard as he could go towards the barrack gates.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

THE STRANGE COMPLICATION.

"I shall be in trouble again," thought Dick; "but I can't help it! I
feel as if that old bit of excitement was coming over me."

The next minute he was out in the street, and making his way toward the
High Barracks, trying to calm down his excitement and come to some
decision as to how he would find out. It seemed simple enough, for what
would Mark be? A lieutenant; and any corporal or sergeant would tell
him whether there was a Lieutenant Frayne in the regiment.

But long before Dick reached the barracks he had another shock; for, all
at once, in turning a corner, he saw a well-built private sauntering
along on the other side whose face was unmistakable, though how he had
become a soldier was more than Dick could grasp.

The man did not see him, and Dick passed on for a few yards, feeling his
forehead, then his pulse, to find the latter a little accelerated, the
former perfectly cool.

"I'm not going mad!" he muttered, excitedly. "I may be dreaming, but--"

He said no more, but turned sharply and followed the private, who was
evidently taking his first walk through the