"--wishes to keep in health, he must be careful, and very abstemious as
to what he drinks. Do you understand?"
I said I did, and thought of the table in Lieutenant Barton's quarters;
feeling sure it was meant as a hint to me not to follow my
brother-officer's example.
I was so busy during those early days drilling, and learning my various
duties, that the time went very fast. I had my servants engaged, and
felt rather ashamed to have so many; but the captain said that they were
absolutely necessary, and the lieutenant that there were not half
enough. He found terrible fault, too, with my horse the first day I was
mounted, and on parade; and this, too, after I had tried the handsome
dark arched-necked creature several times, and found that it carried me
delightfully, being one of those elastic short-stepping animals, whose
pace suited so well with the military style of riding.
"Well," said Barton, sourly, "I gave you my advice, and offered to help
you. Don't blame me if you get ridden over one of these days."
I was nervous enough before he spoke that morning, and naturally felt a
good deal more so afterwards; and during the evolutions in which I took
part for the first time, with a stern-looking sergeant close by me to
help me through, it seemed to me as if my brother-officer's words were
about to be fulfilled. For in my confusion during a gallop I managed to
get where I had no business to be, and turned sharply round to see that
the men with the gun were pretty close to me before they reined in. To
complete my misery, the major in charge of the battery rode up, and
delivered a few pretty sharp adjurations to me and to the sergeant.
I did not feel very comfortable that morning as I rode up to the
quarters, dismounted, covered with perspiration and dust, and saw my
horse led away; neither did I feel much better after my bath and change,
as I hesitated whether I should go over to Captain Brace's rooms, he
having invited me to breakfast.
"I shall never manage it," I thought. Every one was laughing at me, and
it was dreadful to be rowed like that by the major.
I threw myself despondently in my chair, and had quite given up going,
when Captain Brace's servant came round to say that his master was
waiting breakfast.
There was nothing else for it but to go, and I followed the man to the
bright-looking, cool room where Brace was seated.
"Come, my lad," he cried, "I should have thought you would be ravenous.
Hallo! What's wrong?"
I looked at him with my face all in wrinkles, and sank down despondently
in the seat to which he pointed.
"Tired out?" he said.