like; so I
commenced the attack, by approaching the spot where he stood, as if I
was returning home to my barracks. When passing him, I of course gave
him another salute, somewhat smoother than the former. From this
amendment in my behaviour, I was in hopes he would speak to me as I
passed, for I was ripe with a speech as long as my sabre, which I had
been some time cementing together. I had hardly gone past, when he said,
"Halloa, Shipp--come here." I approached him, and, after giving him a
more conciliatory salute than usual, was just about to open my battery
upon him, when he commenced a hedge-fire, by saying, in a kind and
friendly manner, "Well, Shipp, how do you get on?" Here was a pretty
preface to my intended speech! I stood at attention, knowing the respect
due to my commanding officer, and replied, "I get on but badly, Sir."
"How is that?" said the colonel. I said, "I had but little encouragement
to get on well, since he was pleased to pass me over in
promotion."--"Why, then," said he, "did you not come and ask me for it?"
Here my spirit nettled; I told him, no doubt impetuously, that, if he
did not think me worthy of it unsolicited, I should never ask it of him.
By this I struck the chord of his displeasure, and he replied, "Then you
will never get it." I tipped him another salute, rather bordering on
impudence, and was in the act of facing to the right-about, and for this
purpose had drawn my right foot back to my left heel, when he turned his
displeasure into kindness, and said, "Stop, sergeant; suppose I have
something better for you than what I have taken from you, and which you
did not think worth soliciting." He said this with an inquiring eye, and
I replied, that my prospects in life depended entirely upon his
friendship towards me. If he withheld that, I had nothing further to
hope. He answered, "My good-will and friendship you have; but you must
divest yourself of that impetuosity of temper, and depend upon it I
shall not lose sight of your welfare: go home, and keep yourself quiet."
Thus we parted. I wanted a balm of this kind to soothe and calm me; for,
what with my disappointment, and the trouble I had with obstinate young
soldiers and drunken old ones, my patience and temper were really worn
threadbare, and, from constant bellowing at the drills, my voice had
become as gruffly sonorous as a bad church organ. But, in all my
distresses, I never lost sight of my duties and respect to my superiors,
kn