o still, too, that you could hear the whirring,
whizzy noise of the cricket things, and now and then the champ, champ of
the horse rattling his bit as he stood outside the gateway. It was a
strange silence, that seemed to make itself felt; and then the colonel
woke into life, stuck those despatches into his sword-belt, gave an
order here, an order there, and the next minute--Tantaran-tantaran,
_Tantaran-tantaran_, Tantaran-Tantaran, _Tantaran-tay_--the bugle was
ringing out the assemblee, men were hurrying here and there, there was
the trampling of feet, the court-yard was full of busy figures, shadows
were passing backwards and forwards, and the news was abroad that our
regiment was to form a flying column with another, and that we were off
directly.

Ay, but it was exciting, that getting ready, and the time went like
magic before we formed a hollow square, and the colonel said a few words
to us, mounted as he was now, his voice firm as firm, except once, when
I saw him glance at an upper window, and then it trembled, but only for
an instant. His words were not many; and to this day, when I think of
the scene under that hot blue sky, they come ringing back; for it did
not seem to us that our old colonel was speaking, but a new man of a
different mettle, though it was only that the right stuff had been
sleeping in his breast, ready to be wakened by the bugle.

"My lads," he said, and to a man we all burst out into a ringing cheer,
when he took off his cap, and waved it round--"My lads, this is a sharp
call, but I've been expecting it, and it has not found us asleep. I
thank you for the smart way in which you have answered it, for it shews
me that a little easy-going on my part in the piping times of peace has
not been taken advantage of. My lads, these are stern times; and this
despatch tells me of what will bring the honest British blood into every
face, and make every strong man take a firm gripe of his piece as he
longs for the order to charge the mutinous traitors to their Queen, who,
taking her pay, sworn to serve her, have turned, and in cold blood
butchered their officers, slain women, and hacked to pieces innocent
babes. My lads, we are going against a horde of monsters; but I have
bad news--you cannot all go--"

There was a murmur here.

"That murmur is not meant," he continued; "and I know it will be
regretted when I explain myself. We have women here and children:
mine--yours--and they must be prote