is sufferings, it was a very poor exhibition of mirth--a sort of smile
and water, like that of a sun-gleam upon a drizzly day. "Breakfast!" he
said, half-scornfully, "You are always thinking of eating, Punch."

"That I ain't, only at bugle-time, when one blows `soup and tater' for
breakfast or dinner. I say, do you know what the cavalry chaps say the
trumpet call is for stables?"

"No," said Pen quietly; and then to humour his companion he tried to
smile again, as the boy said, "Oh, I know lots of them! This is what
the trumpet says for the morning call:--

"Ye lads that are able
Now come to the stable,
And give all your horses some water and hay-y-y-y!"

And the boy put his half-crippled fist to his lips and softly rang out
the cavalry call.

"Punch!" whispered Pen angrily, "how can you be such a fool?"

"Tchah! Nobody can hear us. I wanted to cheer you up a bit. Well, it
has stirred you up. There: all right, comrade. For'ard! We are safe
enough here. But, I say, what made you jump upon me and tell me I was
always thinking about eating when I said breakfast?"

"Because this is no time to think of eating and drinking."

"Oh my! Ain't it?" chuckled the boy. "Why, when you are on the march
in the enemy's country you ought to be always on the forage, and it's
the time to think of breakfast whenever you get the chance."

"Of course," said Pen.

"Well, ain't we got the chance? We was too busy to think of eating all
yesterday, and while we were lying tied up there like a couple of calves
in a farmer's cart."

"Well, are we much better off now, Punch?"

"Much better--much better off! I should think we are! It was talking
about poor Mr Contrabando that made me think of it. Poor chap! I hope
he will be able to repulse, as you call it, the Frenchies at the next
attack. He is well provisioned; that's one comfort. And didn't he
provision us? My haversack's all right with what I helped myself to at
breakfast yesterday. Ain't yours?"

Pen clapped his hand to his side. "No," he said. "The band was torn
off, and it's gone."

"What a pity! Never mind, comrade. Mine's all right, and regular
bulgy; and, as they say, what's enough for one is enough for two; so
that will be all right. I say, ain't it getting against the collar?"

"Yes, we are on the mountain-slope, Punch."

"Think we are not getting up the same mountain where the old mine is?"

"No, Punch. That must be off more to the ri