iment, shook hands with him, "and
where's the Kaffir bride you promised to bring back?" he added,
laughing.

And one after another flocked in, roused out of their well-earned
slumbers by the hasty summons, glad to welcome an old comrade, and
pleased to hear of the advance.

"I say, Biddulph, won't we trounce those Gwalior chaps? They'd have
done better to have stayed at Calpee, and they'll know it when old Colin
gets at them."

"There goes the reveille," replied Biddulph, as the quivering notes of
the bugle rose on the air, the morning light just breaking grey over the
plain, showing the tents of the little force lying here and there.

"The 150th Regiment will fall in at once, and move off on the Cawnpore
road, as soon as ready," shouted a mounted orderly officer as he rode
up.

"Major Hughes, the Brigadier desires you will cover your advance with
the Light Company, and move on slowly, the sooner the better."

Saluting as he spoke with his sword, the officer rode away to deliver
his orders, and the work of inspecting their several companies went on
rapidly by the regimental officers of the corps destined to lead the
advance.

For the first time Major Hughes, as he sat on his borrowed horse in the
grey dawn, found himself in command of the regiment he had entered as an
ensign, and that too with an enemy of overpowering strength in his
front. He thought of Isabel, his wife, "where was she now?" and then
the memories of the past thronged quickly upon him; the elephant hunt on
the Shire river, the "Halcyon," the death of the old noble; and he had
left that brave wife, who had herself been the first to bid him go
alone, without a protector. What if he fell in the unequal fight which
was to take place? and then on the sharp morning air came the subdued
but heavy thud, which told him of his countrymen and countrywomen in
dire peril, with the soldiers of the treacherous Nana gathering closely
around them. The Adjutant rode up, giving in his report. Was there a
quiver in the voice which gave the order, "With ball cartridge. Load?"

The regiment stood in column of companies, bayonets fixed and
shouldered, the Grenadier company leading.

"By double files from the centre rear wing to the front. Two centre
sections outwards wheel," were the words of command, hoarsely shouted.
"Quick march."

By this manoeuvre, the two centre sections of each company opening out,
permitted that immediately in their rear to pass th