al Orders to-morrow with an appointment as
lieutenant-colonel of your corps, pending her Majesty's approbation."

The tell-tale blood flushed his cheek as he grasped the hand held out to
him, and one and another of the men who stood around him added their
congratulations to those of the rough but true-hearted old soldier.

There stood Brigadier Hope Grant talking eagerly to the officer
commanding Hodgson's Horse, but who found time for a cordial shake of
the hand; Captain Middleton, who, with his field battery, had ever been
among the foremost; Brigadier Greathead; Captain Peel, of the gallant
Naval Brigade; Captain Remington, of the Horse Artillery; the Commanding
Officers of the Cavalry; of the 4th, 5th, and 6th Infantry Brigades, and
of the Royal Engineers, all men trained in a school of actual warfare;
and it was with difficulty Hughes could suppress his emotion, as one
after another advanced and shook his right hand, congratulating him on a
firmness and steadiness which had perhaps saved the little force, but,
at all events, kept open the communications with Allahabad.

"Oh, that Isabel could have been here!" he thought. But Isabel was
away, and far better that it was so, for stern work was yet to be done.

"Be seated, gentlemen," said Sir Colin, motioning with his hand. A
momentary bustle ensued and then a dead silence, broken only by the boom
of an occasional gun from the town.

"I dare say you have wondered not a little," said the fine old soldier,
"why I have remained so long inactive. My object has been to
disembarrass my force from the incubus of non-combatants. The want of
foresight of the enemy in leaving us the bridge of boats permitted the
attempt to be made. The true British pluck and gallantry of the 150th
Regiment has enabled me to carry it out completely."

All eyes turned towards Hughes, who again blushed with pleasure.

"I intend, gentlemen, to strike our tents at sunrise to-morrow, and
attack the enemy."

Sir Colin paused, and a general murmur of pleasure and gratification ran
round the table, as he continued, with a smile on his war-worn
countenance,--

"Ay, ay; you have all been grumbling at me in your hearts, but we'll
make up for lost time. My attack will be on the enemy's right, and if
we can drive that from its position, the day will be ours.

"Here are the instructions for the Cavalry and Horse Artillery, who will
act together. Brigadier Greathead, here are yours. You will