"D'yer think I'd look like that?" says a voice close to my ear just
then. "D'yer think if I'd been made an officer, I'd ha' shewed the
white-feather like that?" And turning round sharp, I saw it was
Measles, who was standing sentry by the gateway; and he was so
disgusted, that he spat about in all directions, for he was a man who
didn't smoke, like any other Christian, but chewed his tobacco like a
sailor.

"Dyer," says the colonel, the next moment, and they closed up together,
but close to where we two stood--"Dyer," he says, "I never felt before
that it would be hard to do my duty as a soldier; but, God help me, I
shall have to leave Annie and the children." There were a couple of
tears rolling down the poor fellow's cheeks as he spoke, and he took
Captain Dyer's hand.

"Look at him! Look there!" whispers Measles again; and I kicked out
sharp behind, and hit him on the shin. "He's a pretty sort of a--"

He didn't say any more just then, for, like me, he was staggered by the
change that took place.

I think I've said Colonel Maine was a little, easy-going, pudgy man,
with a red face; but just then, as he stood holding Captain Dyer's hand,
a change seemed to come over him; he dropped the hand he had held,
tightened his sword-belt, and then took a step forward, to stand
thoughtful, with despatches in his left hand. It was then that I saw in
a moment that I had wronged him, and I felt as if I could have gone down
on the ground for him to have walked over me, for whatever he might have
been in peace, easy-going, careless, and fond of idleness and
good-living--come time for action, there he was with the true British
officer flashing out of his face, his lips pinched, his eyes flashing,
and a stern look upon his countenance that I had never seen before.

"Now then!" I says in a whisper to Measles. I didn't say anything
else, for he knew what I meant. "Now then--now then!"

"Well," says Measles then, in a whisper, "I s'pose women and children
will bring the soft out of a man at a time like this; but, why I what
did he mean by humbugging us like that!"

I should think Colonel Maine stood alone thoughtful and still in that
court-yard, with the sun beating down upon his muslin-covered
forage-cap, while you could slowly, and like a pendulum-beat, count
thirty. It was a tremendously hot morning, with the sky a bright clear
blue, and the shadows of a deep purply black cast down and cut as sharp
as sharp. It was s