|
||||||||
sir; his Majesty King George the Third loves you; your memory is honoured, revered, respected; everybodys fond of you, and grateful to you; your names wrote down at full length in a book in the War Office. Damme, gentlemen, we must all die some time, or another, eh? The voice coughed, and said no more. Joe walked into the room. A group of half-a-dozen fellows had gathered together in the taproom, and were listening with greedy ears. One of them, a carter in a smockfrock, seemed wavering and disposed to enlist. The rest, who were by no means disposed, strongly urged him to do so (according to the custom of mankind), backed the sergeants arguments, and grinned among themselves. I say nothing, boys, said the sergeant, who sat a little apart, drinking his liquor. For lads of spirithere he cast an eye on Joethis is the time. I dont want to inveigle you. The kings not come to that, I hope. Brisk young blood is what we want; not milk and water. We wont take five men out of six. We want top- sawyers, we do. Im not a-going to tell tales out of school, but, damme, if every gentlemans son that carries arms in our corps, through being under a cloud and having little differences with his relations, was counted uphere his eye fell on Joe again, and so good-naturedly, that Joe beckoned him out. He came directly. Youre a gentleman, by G! was his first remark, as he slapped him on the back. Youre a gentleman in disguise. So am I. Lets swear a friendship. Joe didnt exactly do that, but he shook hands with him, and thanked him for his good opinion. You want to serve, said his new friend. You shall. You were made for it. Youre one of us by nature. Whatll you take to drink? Nothing just now, replied Joe, smiling faintly. I havent quite made up my mind. A mettlesome fellow like you, and not made up his mind! cried the sergeant. Herelet me give the bell a pull, and youll make up your mind in half a minute, I know. Youre right so faranswered Joe, for if you pull the bell here, where Im known, therell be an end of my soldiering inclinations in no time. Look in my face. You see me, do you? I do, replied the sergeant with an oath, and a finer young fellow or one better qualified to serve his king and country, I never set my he used an adjective in this placeeyes on. Thank you, said Joe, I didnt ask you for want of a compliment, but thank you all the same. Do I look like a sneaking fellow or a liar? The sergeant rejoined with many choice asseverations that he didnt; and that if his (the sergeants) own father were to say he did, he would run the old gentleman through the body cheerfully, and consider it a meritorious action. Joe expressed his obligations, and continued, You can trust me then, and credit what I say. I believe I shall enlist in your regiment to-night. The reason I dont do so now is, because I dont want until to- night, to do what I cant recall. Where shall I find you, this evening? His friend replied with some unwillingness, and after much ineffectual entreaty having for its object the immediate settlement of the business, that his quarters would be at the Crooked Billet in Tower Street; where he would be found waking until midnight, and sleeping until breakfast time to-morrow. And if I do comewhich its a million to one, I shallwhen will you take me out of London? demanded Joe. To-morrow morning, at half after eight oclock, replied the sergeant. Youll go abroada country where its all sunshine and plunderthe finest climate in the world. |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||