“Visiting rounds!”
“Advance, visiting rounds. All’s not well,” said Willie, and then briefly reported the cause of alarm.
The victim of his vigilance had by this time staggered to the sentry-box.
“Take me to the hospital. I am badly wounded. The scoundrel has shot me.”
“Halloo! sergeant-major. How is this?” inquired the orderly officer.
“Pray let me be taken to hospital, sir, and then I will explain,” said he; and thither he was escorted.
The assistant-surgeon examined him, when it was found that the ball had passed through the fleshy part of his leg. He soon got round, however, but was tried by court-martial, and reduced to the ranks for leaving barracks at an unseasonable hour of the night by a forbidden way. Willie, of course, only did his duty.
“Be the piper,” said he, “I thought I had kilt him intirely by the roar he med.”
Not long after this occurrence, Willie volunteered with about twenty mere of ours for service in India, and joined the 9th Lancers in the spring of 1843, that regiment having embarked in the early part of 1842.
At this period, the regiment was constantly being drained of many effective men, who volunteered for service in regiments under orders for or already in India; consequently, we had several recruiting parties out, among whom were a sergeant and a corporal at Liverpool; but they both deserted, and, it was supposed, sailed for America.