arily," the general explained, hurriedly sinking his
voice. "He is a neighbour of mine, and he has volunteered his help in
case I should ever need it."

This explanation seemed, if anything, to increase the big stranger's
surprise.

"Well, if that don't lick cock-fighting!" he exclaimed, contemplating me
with admiration. "I never heard tell of such a thing."

"And now you have found me, Corporal Smith," said the tenant of
Cloomber, "what is it that you want of me?"

"Why, everything. I want a roof to cover me, and clothes to wear, and
food to eat, and, above all, brandy to drink."

"Well, I'll take you in and do what I can for you," said the general
slowly. "But look here, Smith, we must have discipline. I'm the general
and you are the corporal; I am the master and you are the man. Now,
don't let me have to remind you of that again."

The tramp drew himself up to his full height and raised his right hand
with the palm forward in a military salute.

"I can take you on as gardener and get rid of the fellow I have got.
As to brandy, you shall have an allowance and no more. We are not deep
drinkers at the Hall."

"Don't you take opium, or brandy, or nothing yourself, sir?" asked
Corporal Rufus Smith.

"Nothing," the general said firmly.

"Well, all I can say is, that you've got more nerve and pluck than I
shall ever have. I don't wonder now at your winning that Cross in the
Mutiny. If I was to go on listening night after night to them things
without ever taking a drop of something to cheer my heart--why, it would
drive me silly."

General Heatherstone put his hand up, as though afraid that his
companion might say too much.

"I must thank you, Mr. West," he said, "for having shown this man my
door. I would not willingly allow an old comrade, however humble, to go
to the bad, and if I did not acknowledge his claim more readily it
was simply because I had my doubts as to whether he was really what he
represented himself to be. Just walk up to the Hall, Corporal, and I
shall follow you in a minute."

"Poor fellow!" he continued, as he watched the newcomer hobbling up the
avenue in the ungainly manner which I have described. "He got a gun over
his foot, and it crushed the bones, but the obstinate fool would not let
the doctors take it off. I remember him now as a smart young soldier in
Afghanistan. He and I were associated in some queer adventures, which I
may tell you of some day, and I naturally feel sympathy