utt between his feet, pulling out the
ramrod and running it down the barrel to tap the end of the cartridge as
if to make sure that it was well driven home.

Satisfied with this, he drew the iron rod again, thrust it into the
loops, threw the piece muzzle forward, opened the pan to see that it was
full of powder, shut it down again, and made a careful examination of
the flint. For these were the days long prior to the birth of the
copper percussion-cap, and plenty of preliminaries had to be gone
through before the musket could be fired.

Satisfied now that everything possible had been done, he whispered a
suggestion to his companion that he too should make an examination.

"I did," replied Pen, "a few minutes ago."

"But hadn't you better look again?" whispered Punch.

"No, no," cried his companion impatiently. "Look at them; they are all
advancing to the entrance, and we oughtn't to be left behind."

"We ain't a-going to be," said the boy through his set teeth. "Come
on."

"No," replied Pen.

"Come on, I say," cried the boy again. "We have only got muskets, but
we are riflemen all the same, and our dooty is to go right in front
skirmishing to clear the way."

"Our orders were," said Pen, "to wait here till our captain fetched us
to the front and did what he told us."

"But he ain't come," protested Punch.

"Not yet," replied Pen. "Do you want him to come and find that we have
broken faith with him and are not here?"

"Course I don't," cried the boy, speaking now excitedly. "But suppose
he ain't coming? How do we know that he aren't got a bullet in him and
has gone down? He can't come then." Pen was silent.

"And look here," continued Punch; "when he gave us those orders he told
that other lot--the Spaniel reserve, you may call them--to stop yonder
till he come. Well, that's the King, ain't it? He's ordered an
advance, and he's leading it hisself. Where's his cloud of riflemen
feeling the way for him? Are we to stop in the rear? I thought you did
know better than that, comrade. I do. This comes of you only being a
year in the regiment and me going on learning for years and years. I
say our place is in the front; so come on."

"Yes, Punch; you must be right," said Pen unwillingly, "Forwards then.
Double!"

"That's your sort!" And falling into step and carrying their muskets at
the trail, the two lads ran forward, their steps drowned for the moment
by the heavy firing going on away bey