, dry sand of the other side. "Why, you are both regularly
knocked up.--Dismount!" he cried, and he and his companion dropped from
their saddles. "There, my lads, mount. You can ride the rest of the
way. Hallo! Limping?" he continued. "What does that mean? Footsore,
or a wound?"

"Wound," said Pen quietly. "My comrade, there, has been worse than I.
How far do you say it is to the camp?"

"A couple of miles; but we will see you there safe. How have you been
off for rations?"

Pen told him, and an end was put to their famishing state by a surprise
of the dragoons' haversacks.

About half an hour later the led horses entered the camp, and the boy's
hearts were gladdened by the cheery notes of a cavalry call.

"Ah," whispered Punch, as he leaned over from his seat in the saddle to
whisper to Pen, "that seems to do a fellow's heart good, comrade. But
'tain't so good as a bugle. If I could hear that again I should be just
myself."

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

BEFORE THE AQUILINE.

Three days in the English camp, and the two lads had pretty well
recovered; but they were greatly disappointed to find that during the
absence of the dragoons on vedette duty the --th and another regiment
had been despatched for a reconnoitring expedition, so that the lads had
encountered no old friends.

"Well, I suppose we oughtn't to grumble, comrade," said Punch, "for
every one makes no end of a fuss over us, and are always beginning to
ask questions and set one telling them about all we did after we were
left behind."

"Yes; I am rather tired of it," said Pen. "I shall be only too glad
when we are able to join the regiment."

"Oh, I shall be glad enough," said Punch. "I want to see old O'Grady,
me boy; and, I say, do you think, if I was to make a sort of petition
like, the colonel would put me in one of the companies now? Of course I
used to be proud enough of being bugler, but I want to be full private."

"Well, you have only got to wait till you get bigger," said Pen,
smiling.

"Bother bigger!" cried the boy. "Why, I am growing fast, and last time
I was measured I was only an inch shorter than the little chap we have
got; and what difference does an inch make when a fellow can carry a
rifle and can use it? You can't say that I ain't able, though it was
only a musket."

"No, Punch; there isn't a man in the regiment could have done better
than you did."

"There, then!" cried the boy, with his eyes sparkling. "