n standing upon his
brown forehead. "Don't you tell me you stood that!"

"No, Punch; I couldn't. That night I went right away from home, just as
I stood, made my way to London, and the next day I went to King Street,
Westminster, and saw where the recruiting sergeants were marching up and
down."

"I know," cried the boy, "with their canes under their arms and their
colours flying."

"Yes, Punch, and I picked out the one in the new regiment, the --th
Rifles."

"Yes," cried Punch, "the Rifle green with the red collars and cuffs."

Pen, half-excited by his recollections, half-amused at the boy's intense
interest, nodded again.

"And took the king's shilling," cried Punch; "and I know, but I want you
to tell me--you joined ours just to show that uncle that you wanted to
serve the king, and not for the sake of the scarlet coat."

"Yes, Punch, that was why; and that's all."

CHAPTER NINE.

HOW TO TREAT AN ENEMY.

"Well, but is that all?" said Punch.

"Yes, and now you are tired and had better have a nap, and by the time
you wake I will have some more milk for you."

"Bother the old milk! I'm sick of it; and I don't want to go to sleep.
I feel sometimes as if I had nearly slept my head off. A fellow can't
be always sleeping. Now, look here; I tell you what you have got to do
some day. You must serve that uncle of yours out."

"Let him rest. You are tired and weak."

"No, I ain't. All that about you has done me good. I did not know that
you had had such a lot of trouble, sir."

"Ah, what's that, Punch!" cried Pen sharply. "Don't you say `sir' to me
again!"

"Shall if I like. Ain't you a gentleman?"

"No, sir. Only Private Penton Gray, of the --th Rifles."

"Well, you are a-saying `sir' to me."

"Yes, but I don't mean it as you do. While I am in the regiment we are
equals."

"Oh yes, I like that!" said the boy with a faint laugh. "Wish we was.
Only Private Penton Gray of the --th! Well, ain't that being a
gentleman? Don't our chaps all carry rifles? They are not like the
line regiments with their common Brown Besses. Sharpshooters, that's
what we are. But they didn't shoot sharp enough the other day, or else
we shouldn't be here. I have been thinking when I have been lying
half-asleep that there were so many Frenchies that they got our lads
between two fires and shot 'em all down."

"I hope not, Punch. What makes you think that?"

"Because if they had been all right they wou