column, sounding as if it had been started by the men in
thankfulness for Bracy's good news about Gedge, though it was only the
effect produced by the band; while as soon as the air came to an end,
and there was silence for a minute, another hearty cheer was given for
that which was to come, the men knowing well the meaning of the silence,
which was broken directly after by half-a-dozen beats of the drum, and
then with a sonorous clash the brass instruments of the excellent band
burst forth in a grand march, the clarion-like triumphant notes echoing
softly from the hills on their right, where clusters of the enemy could
be seen staring at them as if in wonder.

"Hear that, you black-muzzled old women? You in white night-gowns?"
shouted Judkins. "That's better than your wheezy old squealing pipes,
made to imitate our Highlanders'. I say, lads, how come they to have
pipes like our fellows? Wish some one would ask Mr Bracy. I dessay he
knows."

"Why don't you ask me yourself, Judkins?" said Bracy, who was close; at
hand.

"Oh! Beg pardon, sir. I didn't know you could hear me."

"Don't be a sham, Judkins. You know I was just behind you."

The lad coloured like a girl, and his comrades laughed; but Bracy took
no notice, and said quietly:

"I don't profess to understand these things; but the use of bagpipes for
music seems to be a custom with the ancient tribes that migrated from
the north of Asia and spread right away through Europe till they were
stopped by the sea."

"Hullo, Bracy!" said Roberts, coming up. "Giving the men a lecture?
You don't mean that the Scotch and Irish pipes had their origin out
here?"

"I have read so. These hill-men have theirs right away east, and you
pick up tribes of people with them at intervals till you get to Italy,
where the mountaineers play them. Then it is not a very long jump to
the Highlands and Ireland, where they use bellows instead of blowing
into the bag."

"A discourse on wind," said Roberts quietly. "I want something more
solid. How soon are we going to halt for a feed and rest?"

The bugle rang out soon after, for they readied a broad stream of bright
clear water, and in a loop of this, which offered itself as a capital
protection for two-thirds of the distance round their temporary camp,
the regiment was halted, and with strong videttes thrown out along the
unprotected portion, the men fell out, when a hasty meal was eaten, and
the men ordered to lie dow