ere, too, was the man who had been punished by the lieutenant; but my
handkerchief was not tied round his head now, his wound having been
bathed and covered with a scrap of plaister. I observed, too, that he
must have changed the slight white garments he wore, for the ugly stains
were gone.

He salaamed as I passed and went back to my own quarters, thinking that
I should have to alter a good deal if I used the native servants as I
had seen the man treated that day.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

I felt bound to tell Captain Brace of Lieutenant Barton's proposal
respecting my horses, and he looked at me sharply. "Do you wish him to
manage that for you?" he said.

"Certainly not," I replied quickly; "he is quite a stranger, and I have
known you from leaving England."

"He has not a very high opinion of my knowledge of horses, I know; but I
think I can save your father some money in the transaction; and I
promise you that you shall be well-mounted. And, by the way, Vincent, I
don't want to worry you with advice, but I must tell you one thing. The
climate here is very trying to an English constitution, and if a man--"

I looked up sharply, and I saw a faint smile on his lip as he went on--

"--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