They fought through the clear cool day, and Bobby felt a little
thrill run down his spine when he heard the tinkle-tinkle-tinkle of
the empty cartridge-cases hopping from the breech-blocks after the
roar of the volleys; for he knew that he should live to hear that
sound in action. The review ended in a glorious chase across the
plain batteries thundering after cavalry to the huge disgust of the
White Hussars, and the Tyneside Tail Twisters hunting a Sikh
Regiment, till the lean lathy Singhs panted with exhaustion. Bobby
was dusty and dripping long before noon, but his enthusiasm was
merely focused not diminished.
He returned to sit at the feet of Revere, his 'skipper,' that is to say,
the Captain of his Company, and to be instructed in the dark art
and mystery of managing men, which is a very large part of the
Profession of Arms.
'If you haven't a taste that way,' said Revere between his puffs of
his cheroot, 'you'll never be able to get the hang of it, but
remember, Bobby, 't isn't the best drill, though drill is nearly
everything, that hauls a Regiment through Hell and out on the
other side. It's the man who knows how to handle men goat-men,
swine-men, dog-men, and so on.'
'Dormer, for instance,' said Bobby, 'I think he comes under the
head of fool-men. He mopes like a sick owl.'
'That's where you make your mistake, my son.
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