The sergeant flushed a little, over the
compliment paid to the Royals.

Major Frazer nodded. 'There's no need to make it common knowledge
just yet. I am allowed to pick my men, but I have no wish to spend
the night in choosing between volunteers. You understand?'

'Yes, sir. You will get a plenty without travelling outside the
regiment.'

'Captain Archimbeau goes with us; and we thought, Wilkes, of asking
you to join the party.'

'You are very good, sir.' There was hesitation, though, in the
sergeant's manner, and Major Frazer perceived it.

'You understand,' he said coldly, 'that there is no obligation.
I wouldn't press a man for this kind of service, even if I could.'

The sergeant flushed. 'I was thinkin' of the regiment, sir,' he
answered, and turned to his captain. 'We shall have our men
supportin'?--if I may make bold to ask.'

'The Royals are to show the way at the great breach, with the 9th in
support. The 38th tackle the smaller breach. To make surer (as he
says), the general has a mind to strengthen us up in the centre with
a picked detachment of the whole division.'

Sergeant Wilkes shook his head. 'I am sorry for that, sir.
'Tisn't for me to teach the general; but I misdoubt all mixin' up of
regiments. What the Royals can do they can best do by themselves.'

'Hurts your pride a bit, eh, sergeant?' asked the major, with a short
laugh. 'And yet, my friend, it was only yesterday I overheard you
telling your company they weren't fit to carry the slops of the Fifth
division.'

'It does 'em good, sir. A man, if he wants to do good, must say a
trifle more than he means, at times.'

'You _can_ trust 'em, then?'

'And that again, sir--savin' your presence--would be sayin' more than
I mean. For the lads, sir, are young lads, though willing enough;
and young lads need to be nursed, however willing. As between you
and me, sir'--here he appealed to Captain Archimbeau--'B Company is
the steadiest in the battalion. But if the major takes away its
captain, and upon top of him its senior sergeant--well, beggin' your
pardon, a compliment's a compliment, but it may be bought too dear.'

'Wilkes is right,' said the major, after a pause. 'To take the both
of you would be risky; and unless I'm mistaken, Archimbeau, he thinks
you will be the easier spared.'

'I haven't a doubt he does,' agreed Captain Archimbeau, laughing.

'But I do not, sir.' The sergeant seemed on the point to say more,
but c