Then I'm sure
if you would speak up and say all that to the colonel he would let me go
into one of the companies. I want to be in yours, but I would wait for
my chance if they would only make me a full private at once."

The boys were sitting talking together when an infantry sergeant came up
and said, "Here, youngsters, don't go away. Smarten yourselves up a
bit. You are to come with me to the officers' tent. I will be back in
about ten minutes."

The sergeant went off in his quick, business-like way, and Punch began
to grumble.

"Who's to smarten himself up," he cried petulantly, "when his uniform is
all nohow and he's got no proper boots? These old uns they've give me
don't fit, and they will be all to pieces directly; and yours ain't much
better. I suppose they are going to question us again about where we
have been and what we have done."

"Yes," said Pen wearily, "and I am rather tired of it. It's like making
a show of us."

"Oh, well, it don't hurt. They like to hear, and I dare say the
officers will give orders that we are to have something to eat and
drink."

"Punch, you think of nothing but eating and drinking," said Pen again.

"Well, after being starved as we have, ain't it enough to make anybody
think that a little more wouldn't do them any harm? Hallo, he's soon
back!" For he caught sight of the sergeant coming.

"Now, boys," he said, "ready?"

"Yes," said Pen; and the keen-looking non-com looked both of them over
in turn.

"That the best you can do for yourselves?" he said sourly. "Well, I
suppose it is. You are clean, and you look as if you had been at work.
You, Punchard, can't you let those trousers down a little lower?"

"No, sir; I did try last night. They have run up through being in the
river when we were half-drowned."

"Humph! Perhaps," said the sergeant. "I believe it was the growing so
much."

Punch turned sharply to his comrade and gave him a wink, as much as to
say, "Hear that?"

"Now then, forward!" said the sergeant. "And look here, put on your
best manners, boys. You are going before some of the biggest officers,
so mind your p's and q's."

A few minutes later the sergeant stopped short at the largest tent in
the camp, stated his business to the sentry who was marching to and fro
before a flag, and after waiting a few minutes a subaltern came out,
spoke to the sergeant, and then told the boys to follow him.

Directly after, the pair were ushered into