The few days that Jack spent among his family he always looked back upon as amongst the happiest of his life; and when the time came for him to say ‘Good-bye,’ and mother and sisters were in tears, it was as much as Jack could do to restrain his own. He, however, remembered he was a soldier, and went off bravely. He reached barracks all right, and at once reported himself to the trumpet-major.
‘You’re in ample time, Blair; a good rule,’ said the trumpet-major. ‘Always aim at being a day too soon rather than a moment too late.’
Jack’s comrades welcomed him warmly when he entered the room, and asked him all sorts of questions as to what he had been doing; but Jack gave them little information, for to his comrades of the barrack-room his home-life and his family were as a sealed book.
The familiar sounds of reveille woke him in the morning, and in half-an-hour he had taken his place again in the new life, and began to feel at home again in barracks. He took up his new duties, Sergeant Barrymore expressing his pleasure at Jack having been posted to his troop.
Jack grew in popularity with his superiors and with his comrades, while Napper sank in their estimation. He tried in every way to annoy Jack, but the latter always defeated his attempts.
CHAPTER X.
THE REVIEW.
SOON after Jack returned to duty the regiment was ordered to prepare to march to Chobham, there to go under canvas.
On the following Thursday morning they started, and a very pleasant march they had. In the afternoon they reached the camp, pitched tents, and settled down in glorious weather. All arms were represented, and the men enjoyed the affair immensely. On the Saturday there was a big field-day, Jack’s regiment representing the attacking cavalry.
About midday the ‘Cease fire,’ was sounded, and Jack’s troop was halted at an old-fashioned inn standing on the heath. As they dismounted, Jack noticed that the band of the regiment were standing and sitting about as though they had been halted there while the rest of the regiment had been engaged in the field. He loosened his saddle-girths and fastened Dainty’s bridle to the pillar of a little rustic arbour beside the inn, while he went inside to get a crust of bread and cheese. In a few minutes an orderly galloped up, bringing word from the colonel that the troop was to rejoin the regiment at once to form up for the march past.
As Jack went towards the little arbour, to his surprise he saw Napper glide out, hurry away towards the band, most of whom were already mounted, and swing himself into the saddle. Hastily tightening up his girths, Jack mounted just as the band trotted off.