“Of course, sir, if he has it in him. Look at me. I’ve rose to sergeant-major, and I’m not a fool. I know I shall get no farther, because I’m only a common man who never had much schooling. But here’s Black Bob, born a gentleman; he’s got breed and learning, and the look of an officer. He has the ways, too, of a man meant by nature to order and lead other men. If he’d set to, there was nothing to prevent him rising to be a general. But, instead of trying to make up for the past, he settles down to being a blackguard; and when a gentleman has made up his mind to that, he makes the blackest sheep you can breed. He’s so clever, and knows so much, that your everyday Tom or Jack’s nothing to him. Doesn’t matter what sort of scamps they are, they are reg’lar lilies to your gentleman. No, sir; I’ve done with Black Bob. He’s past cure; but he’s a good soldier when it comes to a fight, and that’s all I can say for him.”
“It sounds very, very bad, Stubbs.”
“Horrid, sir. I’ve only one hope for him.”
“What’s that?” said Dick sharply.
“That one of these days he’ll come to his end in a big fight when he’s at his best.”
“At his best?”
“Yes: doing one of those things as would have brought him promotion over and over again if he’d been any one else. I’ve known him go along full charge at a dozen to cut a comrade out. I’ve known him bring a wounded chap out of a tight corner with the bullets rattling about like hail, haul him up across his horse, and gallop back. I’ve known him jump down to give up his horse to save his officer; and I don’t know how many times we’ve give him up for a dead un on the field, cut to pieces as we’ve thought, and he’s turned up again all right. Fight? There isn’t a man like him in the army when there’s work on the way. He saved me being cut up one day in a scrimmage, when we were surprised and surrounded by a lot of those ghazee chaps with their long knives, and hadn’t had time to limber up and gallop off. I never forgot that, sir, and I’ve stood between Master Bob and punishment many a time when I’d have given other fellows away.”
“Then he can’t be a bad man, Stubbs,” cried Dick earnestly.
The sergeant chuckled.
“What are you laughing at?” cried Dick sharply.