“In Scotland, Central Australia, and North-Eastern Rhodesia and the North-West Indian front.”
“What’s your service?”
“Four years. I’ll have to go in a year. I got in when I was twenty-two—by a fluke—from the Militia direct—on Trials.”
“Trials like those we just saw?”
“Not so severe. There was less competition then. I hoped to get my stripes, but there’s no chance.”
“Why?”
“I haven’t the knack of handling men. Purvis let me have a half-company for a month in Rhodesia—over towards Lake N’Garni. I couldn’t work ’em properly. It’s a gift.”
“Do colour-sergeants handle half-companies with you?”
“They can command ’em on the ‘heef.’ We’ve only four company officers—Burgard, Luttrell, Kyd, and Harrison. Pigeon’s our swop, and he’s in charge of the ponies. Burgard got his company on the ‘heef.’ You see Burgard had been a lieutenant in the Line, but he came into the Guards on Trials like the men. He could command. They tried him in India with a wing of the battalion for three months. He did well so he got his company. That’s what made me hopeful. But it’s a gift, you see—managing men—and so I’m only a senior private. They let ten per cent of us stay on for two years extra after our three are finished—to polish the others.”
“Aren’t you even a corporal?”