said something stupid--a bull?"

"More like the bleat of an innocent calf," said Roberts--"eh, Bracy?"

"Oh, all right; chaff away, old chaps. But, I say, I hear that there
are a lot of supplies coming up the pass--mule-loads and loads. There's
sure to be a bullock-trunk for me, and I shall be able to get out of you
fellows' debt."

"Our debt?" said Bracy. "You don't owe me anything."

"Oh, don't I? What about those boots?"

One morning, when Bracy was getting on towards convalescence, Gedge, who
was acting as invalid servant, entered the homely room holding out one
arm.

"Why, Gedge!" cried Bracy; "the sergeant's chevrons?"

"That's right, sir," cried their owner proudly. "Youngest sergeant in
the ridgement, Colonel says, and that he was proud to give me my
promotion."

The young soldier held out his arm, upon which the regimental tailor had
sewn a patch of very shabby cloth, bearing the three stripes of the
sergeant's rank, the thing itself being a weather-stained rag.

"I congratulate you, my lad, with all my heart."

"I knew you would, sir. Ain't much to look at, sir, to some people. We
shall get fresh togs served out some day; but I don't believe the noo
stripes 'll shine out half so bright as these here do, sir, to me."

Bracy sighed.

"Can't help feeling as proud as a dog with two tails--ought to say
three, sir, because that's the number of the stripes. But somehow I
don't feel as I thought I should."

"I suppose not," said Bracy sadly. "I feel the same, Gedge. We did not
fetch the Ghoorkhas."

"No, sir," said Gedge, grinning; "but we brought 'em back, and I don't
see how any two could ha' done more than we did. But I didn't mean
that, sir. I meant about Sergeant Gee. I thought it would make him as
waxy as could be; but as soon as parade was over, and the boys had done
cheering me for my promotion, I got showing off, for old Gee was coming
up to me, and I was getting ready to give him back as good as he give
me. But what d'yer think, sir?"

"I don't know, Gedge," said Bracy, smiling.

"Knocks the wind outer me at once."

"What do you mean?"

"Comes up to me and offers me one hand, and claps t'other on my
shoulder. `Glad to welcome so brave a brother,' he says, `to the
sergeants' mess.' My! I was took aback, sir, and couldn't say a word;
and if next minute his missus wasn't shaking hands too with the tears in
her eyes, sir--real uns, for I counted four as tumbled out and fe