ich shook John Jervase; and
even these quieted down as if he too were listening to the growing
tumult outside. There was a sudden roll of drums, and the band began to
play 'The Girl I left behind me.' An imperious rap sounded at the door,
and Colonel Stacey entered without waiting for a response.

'Do you take your commission, Jervase, or are you to be left here?' he
asked brusquely.

'I am to be left here, sir,' Polson answered. 'But I hope that I may get
my marching orders as soon as possible.'

'We embark on Friday,' said the Colonel, 'and another ship follows that
day week. I'll see you through by then.'

'Thank you, sir,' said Polson, and the Colonel nodded and was gone.

The band was playing, and the crowd in the street was cheering, and
there was silence between father and son for two or three minutes. Then
rose from the barrack square a deafening roar as 'old Stayce' rode out
on the bright bay with the three white stockings, and cantered to
the front. The hoarse, commanding voice pealed out the word, the
band crashed into a new marching tune, and the regiment began to move
forward, like a scarlet snake with glistering scales. Clank and clatter
of scabbard, tramp of the ordered ranks, blare of the band, and roar on
roar from the street, and then little by little a falling silence. At
last dead quiet.

'You needn't think there's no clean money in my hands,' said Jervase.
'I don't owe everything to that blasted brine-pit. You can take your own
rights. You can take what I offer you, and feel as you're an honest man
all the same. And Polly, if you're going out as a private soldier you'll
want money. It isn't as if an untravelled man was talkin' to you. I know
the Black Sea Coast I spent one Febiwerry there, a man before the mast.
I'll back it again the Pole for cold. You'll miss a lot o' comforts,
Polly, as a pound or two would buy for you.'

'I must go back to duty,' said Polson, 'or I shall get into hot water.'

'Take a hundred pound, Polly. It's clean money. I'll swear it on my
Bible oath. Look here, Polly. Look here!'

Jervase rose and shook his son by both shoulders in a frenzy.

'Look here, Polly, look here. Listen.'

'I am listening, father.'

'Then look as if you was listening for Heaven's sake! I'm worth half
a million, if I'm worth a penny. I never owned to it before, but if
it isn't true God strike me dead. Outside that salt mine, I've been an
honest man. You won't believe it, but I have. I s