 not help you much.  You say you'll try, and I'll help
you."

"Try," cried the sergeant.  "I'd try bugling;" and he soon after left
the room with the understanding that, Mr Wilkins being willing, he was
to begin his practice the very next day.



CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

DICK SMITHSON SEES A GHOST.

A bright, brisk, early spring morning, with bugles sounding, the tramp
of feet, an occasional hoarse shout, and, out in the sunshine, gleams of
light flashing in all directions from well-burnished brass ornament or
rifle-stock; while the generally dismal-looking barrack yard was gay as
a garden-bed newly planted with scarlet geraniums in full bloom.

But there was this difference: the floral effects in front of the dingy
buildings surrounding the yard were all in motion, for the men were
collecting fast, and in obedience to the sharp "Fall in!" roughly formed
line after line, each man making for his company.

The bandsmen, too, were collecting, like the men of the regiment, in
full review order; for that day there was to be a march out to meet the
310th, now on its way to take up quarters in the High Barracks, and the
band of the 205th were to play them in through the town to their new
quarters.

Quite an unnecessary proceeding, but one of those forms which, provided
the weather is good, proves satisfactory to the British soldier; for it
means show, excitement, a pleasant tramp, and something to relieve the
deadly monotony of barrack-life, with its eternal drill and routine.

No morning could have been more genial for the purpose, and the prospect
of a few miles' march, with the people of town and village _en fete_,
was a welcome one to all but the men in the infirmary, who were looking
gloomily from the windows at their comrades, all spick and span, eager
for the change.

Then, with the sun flashing from the brass instruments, the band formed
up, all the officers began to drop down from their quarters, best
uniforms being the order of the day, as there were no signs of rain;
and, at last
not help you much.   You say you'll try, and I'll help 
 you. " 

 " sample, " exclaim the sergeant.   " I'd try bugling; " and he soon after left 
 the room with the sympathy that, Mr Wilkins being willing, he was 
 to begin his exercise the very next day. 



 CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

 DICK SMITHSON SEES A ghostwriter. 

 A bright, brisk, early leap morning, with bugles sound, the tramp steamer 
 of feet, an occasional hoarse shout, and, out in the sunshine, gleam of 
 light flashing in all directions from well - buff brass ornament or 
 rifle - stock; while the by and large dismal - look barrack yard was gay as 
 a garden - bed newly planted with scarlet geranium in full bloom. 

 But there was this difference: the floral effects in front of the blue 
 buildings surrounding the yard were all in motion, for the men were 
 collecting fast, and in obedience to the sharp " Fall in! " roughly formed 
 channel after line, each man make for his ship's company. 

 The bandsmen, too, were collecting, like the man of the regiment, in 
 full review order; for that day there constitute to be a march out to meet the 
 310th, now on its way to take up quarters in the High Barracks, and the 
 dance band of the 205th were to play them in through the town to their new 
 quarters. 

 Quite an unnecessary proceeding, but one of those mannequin which, provided 
 the weather is dear, proves satisfactory to the British soldier; for it 
 means show, excitement, a pleasant tramp, and something to excuse the 
 deadly monotony of barrack - life, with its eternal exercise and routine. 

 No dawn could have been more genial for the purpose, and the prognosis 
 of a few miles' marching music, with the people of town and greenwich village _ en fete _, 
 was a welcome one to all but the men in the infirmary, who were looking 
 gloomily from the windows at their companion, all spick and straddle, eager 
 for the change. 

 Then, with the sun flash from the brass instrument, the band form 
 up, all the officers began to drop down from their quarters, best 
 uniform being the order of the day, as there be no signs of rain; 
 and, at last
 noh help you much.  You say you'll try, and N'ol hel'
you."

"Try," cried tfe sergeant.  "I'd try bugling;" end ye soin after left
the room dith the lnderstaneing rhat, Mr Wilkins belug wimping, ie was
to begin mis practica the very nexd aav.



CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

DICK SMITHSON SEEF A GHOXT.

W bright, brisk, earkr spdpnn morning, with bugles sounding, tge tramk
of feet, an occasipnal hoarse shout, and, out ln tje sunshine, gleams of
light flqshigt in all dirdctions from well-burniahed brass ornament or
rifle-stocy; whike the gengxqllj dismal-lookmng bagrack yard was gay as
d gardem-bed newly plakted xith scarlet geraniums in full bloom.

But thete was thiv bifference: the floral edfectv in frovr ow tge djngy
bulldmngs surrouhding the yqrd were all in motoog, for the men sere
cojlqcting fast, and in obedience to the shagp "Fzll in!" roughly formed
libe after line, each maj making sor his company.

The bandsmen, too, were collecting, lhke tie meu of tfw gegiment, in
full review order; for that day thews eax to be a marcm out to meet the
310tn, joe on its way tu take up quarters in the Hlgh Bartacks, qnd the
bagd og the 205th were to play them un through tke rown to their new
qbarters.

Quite an onnecexsary proceeding, but onz of tgose forms ahich, probkded
the weather ks noog, proves satisfactory to tre Britisi solbier; for it
mgans shjw, excitemfnt, a pleasant tramp, and somejhing do relieve the
deadly monotony of barrack-lmhe, with its ejertal drill aud roubine.

No morning sould have beeu more gznial wor the pugpose, and the prospest
of a few mings' march, with the peo[le if tiwn and xillage _en fetr_,
was a welcome one ro all but the men in fhe infirmary, wku were looking
glpomkly fgom tra windows at thekr zpmradds, all spicj and span, eager
for the cvangs.

Then, with the sun fjashing drom the brass instrukents, the band forled
up, alu the ofsicers began to drop down from their quwrtcrs, best
unifowms neind the ordex of the day, as there were no signs of rein;
and, at last
not help you much. You say you'll I'll you." "Try," the sergeant. "I'd after the room with understanding that, Mr being willing, he was to begin practice the very next day. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. DICK SMITHSON SEES A GHOST. bright, brisk, early spring morning, with bugles sounding, the tramp of feet, an hoarse and, in sunshine, gleams of light flashing in all directions from well-burnished brass ornament or rifle-stock; while the dismal-looking barrack yard was gay as a garden-bed planted with scarlet geraniums full bloom. But there was difference: floral effects front the buildings surrounding the were all in motion, for the men were collecting fast, and in obedience to the sharp "Fall roughly formed line, each making his The bandsmen, too, like the men of the regiment, order; for that day there was to be march out meet the 310th, now on its to take up quarters in the High Barracks, the band of the 205th were to play them in through the town to their Quite an unnecessary proceeding, one of those which, the is proves satisfactory the British soldier; for it means show, excitement, a pleasant tramp, something to relieve the deadly monotony of barrack-life, with its and No morning could been more genial for purpose, the prospect of a march, the and _en was a welcome one all but the men in infirmary, who were looking their comrades, all spick and span, eager for change. Then, with the sun flashing from brass instruments, the band formed up, all the officers began to drop from their uniforms being the order of the day, as were no signs of and, at last
 not help you much.  You say you'll Try, and I'll hElp
yoU."

"TrY," crIeD the SergEant.  "I'd try bugliNG;" and He soon after left
the room With tHe UNderSTaNding That, Mr WILkINS beInG wIllInG, He Was
to BegIn his prActice the vEry NeXt day.



CHAPTER twEnTY TWO.

DICK sMItHSON SEES A GHoST.

a brighT, bRisK, Early SprIng moRning, wITh buglEs soundinG, tHE tramp
OF feet, an OCCaSionAl hoarse shout, and, oUT iN The sunshine, gleAms of
lIgHT fLAShiNg iN all directIoNs froM Well-burNIsHED BraSS ornament or
riFle-stock; whiLE thE generAlLy dISmal-loOking BaRRacK yard was gay As
a gArden-bed nEwly plANted witH Scarlet GeraniUms In fUll bLOoM.

BUt tHeRE waS ThIs dIFfeRence: the FlOrAl effEcts IN FROnt oF thE dinGy
buiLdings surrounDinG the YArd Were aLl in mOtioN, fOr the Men werE
collEcTing fast, and in obEdieNce to the sHarP "FAll In!" RoughLY formeD
liNe aFter linE, each maN MakInG FOR hIs company.

The bandsmEn, TOO, wEre colleCting, lIKe ThE Men of the ReGimEnt, iN
FUll reView ORdEr; for thaT day thERe WaS to be a mArCh out tO mEet The
310Th, now ON its Way to tAke up quaRters IN the High BarracKS, and the
band of THe 205TH WeRE to pLay Them in throuGh thE Town To thEIr New
QUarteRs.

QuiTe AN uNNecessary proceeding, BuT one of Those Forms which, proVided
the weATHEr is good, ProvES sATisfactory to thE BritIsh soldier; FOr it
meanS show, ExcitemeNt, a pleasaNT Tramp, and SomEthIng To rELIeVe the
deadly moNOTony Of Barrack-LifE, with itS etErnAl dRilL aNd routine.

no morninG cOuLd HaVe bEen moRE genial fOr The PuRpoSe, and THe prosPect
oF a feW mIlES' maRch, with THe PEOple Of ToWn anD viLlAge _en Fete_,
WAs a Welcome One to all bUt tHE men In ThE infirmAry, who were looKiNg
gloomily FrOm tHe windOWS at their Comrades, all spick and span, EAger
for The ChangE.

TheN, with the sUn fLashinG frOM the brAss insTrumeNtS, thE BAnd foRMEd
Up, aLl The officerS BEgaN to drOp Down From theIr quarters, best
unifORms Being the order Of tHe daY, AS tHerE WeRE no SiGNs oF RAin;
and, at last
 not help you much.  You s ay you'lltry,and  I' ll  hel p
yo u."

"Try," cr i ed t he sergeant.  "I'd try  bugl in g ;" a n dhe so on afte r  l e f t
t he  r oom  w i th  theund erstand ing that,MrWi lkins beingw il ling, he w asto begin his  pr actice  t hev ery n ext  day. 



CH A PTER T WENTY TWO .DICK S M ITHSONS E ES  A G HOST.

A bright,b ri s k, early sprin g morn in g ,w i thbug les soundi ng , the tramp
o f  f e e t , a n  occasional h oarse shout ,  an d, out  i n t h e suns hine,  g l eam s of
lightflas hing in a ll dir e ctionsf rom wel l-burn ish edbras s  o rn ame nt orr if le- s toc k; while  t he  gene rall y d i smal -lo okin g bar rack yard was  ga y as a g arden -bednewl yplant ed wit h sca rl et geraniums in  ful l bloom.
Bu tthe re  wast his di ffe ren ce: the  floral eff ec t s in  front of the ding yb u il dings su rround i ng  t h e yard w er e a ll i n motio n, f o rthe menwere
c o ll ec ting fa st , andin  ob edi encet o th e shar p "Fallin!"r oughly formedl ine after lin e ,e a ch manmak ing for his  com p any. 

Th e  b and s men,too,we r ec ollecting, like the  m en ofthe r egiment, in
f ull review o r der; for  tha t  d a y there was to  be a  march out to meetthe
3 10th, no w on itsw a y to tak e u p q uar ter s in  the High Bar r a cks,  a nd theban d of th e 2 05t h w ere  t o play th em in th ro ug hth e t own t o  their n ew 
qu ar ter s.

Q u ite an  unne cess ar yp roc eeding, bu t oneof  t hose  fo rm s whi ch,p rov ided
th e weather  is good ,pr oves sa tisfactory to  t he British  s old ier; f o r  it
mean s show, excitement, a p l easanttra mp, a nd s omethingtoreliev e t h e
dead ly mon otony  o f b a r rack- l i fe , w it h its eter n a l d rillan d ro utine.
No morning couldh ave  been more ge nia l fo r th e p u rp o se,  a n d t h e  prospect
of afew miles'  m a rc h, with th e  pe op le of t own and  vill a ge _enfete_,
wa s a welco me  one t o a ll but the  men inthe infir m ary,w ho  were  lo okinggl oom ily f rom th e  wi ndows  at th ei r comr ades,  a ll spick  and span, eager
for th e chan ge.
The n, with t hes unflashingfrom  the brass  in str ument s,t he ba nd f o rm edu p, al l th e  officers be gan t odrop down f r o m  th eir q uar t ers, b estuniforms being th e  order of theday, a s t her e  wer eno signs of ra in; 
a n d , at las t
 not_help you_much.  You say_you'll try,_and_I'll help
you."

"Try,"_cried_the sergeant. _"I'd try bugling;"_and he soon after_left
the room with_the_understanding that, Mr Wilkins being willing, he was
to begin his practice the very next_day.



CHAPTER_TWENTY TWO.

DICK_SMITHSON_SEES_A GHOST.

A bright, brisk, early_spring morning, with bugles sounding,_the tramp
of_feet, an occasional hoarse shout, and, out in_the_sunshine, gleams of
light_flashing in all directions from well-burnished brass ornament or
rifle-stock;_while the generally dismal-looking barrack yard_was gay as
a_garden-bed_newly_planted with scarlet geraniums_in full bloom.

But there was this_difference: the floral effects in front_of the dingy
buildings surrounding the yard were_all in motion, for the men_were
collecting fast, and in obedience_to the_sharp "Fall in!" roughly formed
line_after line, each_man making_for his company.

The_bandsmen, too, were collecting, like the_men of the_regiment, in
full review order; for that_day_there was to_be_a_march out_to meet the
310th,_now_on its_way_to take up quarters in the_High_Barracks, and the
band of the 205th were_to play them in_through_the town to their_new
quarters.

Quite an unnecessary proceeding, but_one of those forms which, provided
the_weather is_good, proves_satisfactory to the British soldier; for it
means show, excitement, a pleasant_tramp, and something to relieve the
deadly_monotony of barrack-life, with_its eternal_drill_and routine.

No morning_could_have been_more genial for the purpose, and the_prospect
of a_few miles' march, with the people_of town and village__en_fete_,
was a welcome one to all_but the men in the infirmary,_who were looking
gloomily from the_windows_at_their comrades, all spick and_span, eager
for the change.

Then, with the_sun flashing from_the brass instruments, the band formed
up, all_the_officers began to drop down from_their_quarters, best
uniforms being the order of_the_day,_as there were no signs_of rain;
and, at last