you had
distinguished yourself very highly, in the attack upon the
Peiwar-Khotal, and that he was convinced that you would make, in
all respects, an excellent officer. With my despatches that have
just come in, I have received a notification that my request has
been attended to; together with a copy of the Gazette, in which you
are appointed to the 66th Regiment.

"I have to congratulate you, sir. You are now an officer; and will,
I am quite sure, do every credit to my recommendation."

The young soldier was, for a moment, too moved at the tidings to
speak coherently; but he murmured his thanks to the general for his
kindness.

"Do not say anything about that," the general said, heartily. "It
is a pleasure, to me, to have been able to advance a promising
young soldier.

"I am only sorry that you are not gazetted to a regiment in my own
division. The 66th are at Candahar; and unfortunately they will
not, I understand, form part of a column with which General Stuart
will advance, in the spring, up the valley through Ghuzni to this
place. Had it been so, it would have been best for you to wait
their arrival here but, as it is, you had better go down the pass
to India, and work round and join your regiment. It is a long road,
but it is always best for a young officer to be with his
regiment--especially when in the field--and it is possible that
they may have their share of fighting, round Candahar.

"And now, there is one thing more. You will have to get an outfit,
and there will be the expense of your travel, until you join your
regiment. There will be no difficulty about an outfit. This you can
procure easily, on the sale of some officer's effects.

"By the by, poor young Thompson, who died yesterday, was about your
size; and you had better bid a lump sum for the whole of his kit. I
shall be happy to be your banker for that, and the needful sum for
your traveling expenses. When you join your regiment you will, of
course, be able to draw your pay, from the date on which you were
gazetted."

Will thanked the general very heartily for his offer, but said that
he had 100 pounds standing at his account at the bank of Hindostan,
which had been presented to him by the owners of the vessel in which
he arrived there; and that this would be more than sufficient for all
his needs, if the general would kindly authorize the staff paymaster
to cash his drafts upon the bank.

This request was at once granted. The paymaster o