y-sergeant, in the same
regiment. The post of pay-sergeant is certainly one of importance, and
he who holds it a personage of no small consideration. He feeds and
clothes the men; lends them money at _moderate_ interest and on good
security; and sells them watches and seals, on credit, at a price
_somewhat_ above what they cost, to be sure, but the mere sight of
which, dangling from a man's fob, has been known to gain him the
character of a sober steady fellow, and one that should be set down for
promotion. Thus, at least, good may sometimes be educed from evil; and,
as it is not my intention to enter into a detail of the chicanery
practised among the minor ranks in the army, let it suffice that I never
served in a company in which every individual could not buy, sell,
exchange, lend, and borrow, on terms peculiar to themselves.

Shortly after my promotion, an order arrived for the two flank companies
of the regiment to proceed to join the army then in the field, with all
possible speed. We were to proceed by land, the distance about twelve
hundred miles, and the season winter. Every hand was busily engaged in
making the necessary preparations for the journey, equipping ourselves
as lightly as possible; when an unfortunate misunderstanding occurred,
which was but too likely, not only to prevent our journey, but to put an
end to some of our lives.

On the arrival of troops at Fort William, it had been the custom to stop
from each soldier of his majesty's army, eight rupees; but for what
purpose, strange to say, they were never told. This deduction had been
made from the pay of our two companies without any explanation; and, as
the men were now proceeding on active service, it was but right and
natural that they should desire to know (as we had been accustomed in
the regiment) why any part of this pay was withheld from them. They
called upon their officers for explanation, who were as much in the dark
as themselves. The greater part of the two companies then marched, in a
sober deliberate manner, towards Major-General Sir Hughen Bailey's
quarters, to seek redress. Here they were given to understand that the
sum of eight rupees was customary to be stopped from each soldier, to
insure him a decent burial. This explanation only added fuel to flame,
and excited in the hearts of the men--few of whom, poor fellows! ever
wanted burial, as will be seen in the sequel of this narrative--the
most bitter rancour against such a custo