The Thin Red Line; and Blue Blood

d of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword. Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still rely

th of the land, proudly mindful of their former prowess

the world peopled by offshoots from the old stock, most of all in those stronghold

rtress, one of the ancient pillars of Hercules that still stands s

side, resonant from morning gunfire till watch-setting with martial sounds, its principal pageants military, with soldiers fill

ed more fully that war was close at hand. Lying in the high road to the East, it saw daily the armed strength of England sweep proudly by. Now a squadron of men-of-war: not the hideous, shapeless ironclad of to-day, but the traditional three-decker, with

ion between the sea and the shore, but all day long there were crowds of idlers ready to line the sea-wall and greet every ship that came in close enough with hearty repeated cheers. When the vexat

every barrack-room and guard-house upon the Rock. The British soldier is an inveterate grumbler; he quarrels perpetually with his quarters, his food, his clothing, and his general want of luck. Just now the bad luck o

young sergeant of the Royal Picts, as he walked

s, fitted him to perfection; the pale blue trousers, the hideous fashion of the day, for which Prince Albert was said to be responsible, were carefully cut; his white belts were beautifully pipe-clayed, and the use of pipe-clay was at that time an art;

mission to have your throat cut. Can'

gns, and his bronzed, weather-beaten face showed that he had seen service in many climes. As a soldier he was in no wise inferior to his comrad

t it natural we should want to

geant Hyde. "I've seen something of campaigning, and it's rough work at

ther bitterly. "They have

oung idiot," interposed his comrad

and, standing strictly to attention, salut

I hate," we

know what proper discipline means. They a

ut they

s, I am quite sure Mr. Wilders didn't mean it; he is far too good

uting him more t

ith you? What particular fault h

t as good

that of this garrison-certainly not un

s good. I am

suddenly, bit his lip

my young friend," said Sergeant Hyde, quietly.

o my statio

t any man, however highly born, had lost his right to be dee

gentleman too. I

Royal Picts. That is eno

d you e

k his hea

e does not care to lift again when they are once turned

said McKay, quickly. "I am ready

but, mind, I hav

ent in this speech; but McK

e army in any other way. My friends coul

so wild to bec

's profession. He

you a claim for an ensig

English service. He was only

ed! H

, my father was born in Poland. He was a Russian subject,

r l

ent, and only escaped execution by flight. He lived

her that you are rel

ughter of the Honourable Anast

inguishing numeral of the p

ourteent

our mother are

am his first cous

n his tone. "They're not much use to you though, these fine relations. Sur

I hate him and the whole of the Wilders fam

there any

ff with a shilling. His brother, the next earl, was disposed to make it up, but my grandfather

. But I wonder you came to this re

ouple of years before he w

lling?-that you are now a colo

ey are aware of m

time may come when they will be proud to re

now to force them,

which is coming. Everything is possible to a man whose

fellow's e

ha'n't flinch, if I

up Spanish since you have been here; and I suppose you

can talk French fluently, an

ly in your own hands. You are b

old Rock and losing all the fun. Can you wonder wh

ldier that carries a musket before this war is ove

am eating my h

here? What brings you to Waterport t

orderly sergeant to one of the Expeditionary Genera

know h

understand now why I am so bitter against my rel

rought our Mr. Wilders here

they are on board Lo

ow many

fe with him, I believe, acc

home? Women are in the way at these tim

u never marrie

but got up and left his comrade ab