下载辰思小说免费APP
’There，theybetinginginthepasson！’exclaimedDavid，MillerLoveday’sman，whoalsoformedoneofthecompany，asthebellschangedfromchimingallthreetogethertoaquickbeatingofone。
Thewholelinedrewabreathofrelief，threwdowntheirarms，andbeganrunningoff。
’Well，then，Imustdismissye，’saidthesergeant。’Comeback——
comeback！NextdrillisTuesdayafternoonatfour。And，mind，ifyourmasterswon’tletyeleaveworksoonenough，tellme，andI’llwritealinetoGover’ment！’Tention！Totheright——leftwheel，I
mean——no，no——rightwheel。Mar——r——r——rch！’
Somewheeledtotherightandsometotheleft，andsomeobligingmen，includingCripplestraw，triedtowheelbothways。
’Stop，stop；tryagain！’Cruitsandcomrades，unfortunatelywhenI’minahurryIcanneverremembermyrighthandfrommyleft，andnevercouldasaboy。Youmustexcuseme，please。Practicemakesperfect，asthesayingis；and，muchasI’velearntsinceI’listed，wealwaysfindsomethingnew。Nowthen，rightwheel！march！halt！
Standatease！dismiss！Ithinkthat’stheordero’t，butI’lllookintheGover’mentbookaforeTuesday。’*
*VidePrefaceManyofthecompanywhohadbeendrilledpreferredtogooffandspendtheirshillingsinsteadofenteringthechurch；butAnneandCaptainBobpassedin。Eventheinteriorofthesacrededificewasaffectedbytheagitationofthetimes。Thereligionofthecountryhad，infact，changedfromloveofGodtohatredofNapoleonBuonaparte；and，asiftoremindthedevoutofthisalteration，thepikesforthepikemen(allthoseacceptedmenwhowerenototherwisearmed)werekeptinthechurchofeachparish。There，againstthewall，theyalwaysstood——awholesheafofthem，formedofnewashstems，withaspikedriveninatoneend，thestickbeingpreservedfromsplittingbyaferule。Andtheretheyremained，yearafteryear，inthecorneroftheaisle，tilltheywereremovedandplacedunderthegallerystairs，andthenceultimatelytothebelfry，wheretheygrewblack，rusty，andworm-eaten，andweregraduallystolenandcarriedoffbysextons，parishclerks，whitewashers，window-menders，andotherchurchservantsforuseathomeasrake-stems，benefit-clubstaves，andpick-handles，inwhichdegradedsituationstheymaystilloccasionallybefound。
ButintheirnewandshiningstatetheyhadaterrorforAnne，whoseeyeswereinvoluntarilydrawntowardsthemasshesatatBob’ssideduringtheservice，fillingherwithbloodyvisionsoftheirpossibleusenotfarfromtheveryspotonwhichtheywerenowassembled。Thesermon，too，wasonthesubjectofpatriotism；sothatwhentheycameoutshebegantoharpuneasilyupontheprobabilityoftheirallbeingdrivenfromtheirhomes。
Bobassuredherthatwiththesixtythousandregulars，themilitiareserveofahundredandtwentythousand，andthethreehundredthousandvolunteers，therewasnotmuchtofear。
’ButIsometimeshaveafearthatpoorJohnwillbekilled，’hecontinuedafterapause。’Heissuretobeamongthefirstthatwillhavetofacetheinvaders，andthetrumpetersgetpickedoff。’
’Thereisthesamechanceforhimasfortheothers，’saidAnne。
’Yes——yes——thesamechance，suchasitis。YouhaveneverlikedJohnsincethataffairofMatildaJohnson，haveyou？’
’Why？’shequicklyasked。
’Well，’saidBobtimidly，’asitisaticklishtimeforhim，woulditnotbeworthwhiletomakeupanydifferencesbeforethecrashcomes？’
’Ihavenothingtomakeup，’saidAnne，withsomedistress。Shestillfullybelievedthetrumpet-majortohavesmuggledawayMissJohnsonbecauseofhisowninterestinthatlady，whichmusthavemadehisprofessionstoherselfamerepastime；butthatveryconducthadinitthecuriousadvantagetoherselfofsettingBobfree。
’SinceJohnhasbeengone，’continuedhercompanion，’Ihavefoundoutmoreofhis
