!Tention Part 62

"I am the King's servant, sir, and I will do my best."

"That's enough," said the chief. "You can return to your quarters and hold yourself in readiness to do what I propose, and if you do this successfully--"

The speaker stopped short, and Pen took a step towards him.

"What were you going to say?" said the officer.

"Let me try first, sir," said the lad, with his pale face, worn by what he had gone through of late, flushing up with excitement.

"That will do," said the officer, "only be ready for your duty at any moment.--Well, what do you wish to say?"

Pen stretched out his hand and laid it upon Punch's shoulder, for the boy had been moving his lips almost continuously during the latter part of the conversation, and in addition making hideous grimaces as if he were in pain.

"Only this, sir," said Pen; "my companion here went through all that I did. He was keenly observant, and would be of great a.s.sistance to me if at any turn I were in doubt."

"Then you would like to have him with you?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you feel that you could trust him?"

"Oh yes, sir," replied Pen. And the boys' eyes met--their hands too, for Punch with his lips still pressed together took a step forward and caught Pen by the hand and wrist.

"Take him with you, then," said the officer.

"Oh, thank--Hooray! hooray!" cried Punch, wildly excited now, for he had caught the tramp of men and seen that which made him dash towards the open tent-door.

"Bring back that boy!" cried the officer; and the sergeant, who was waiting outside, arrested Punch and brought him before the group of officers.

"How dare you, sir!" cried the chief wrathfully. "You are not to be trusted. I rescind that permission I was about to give."

"Oh, don't do that, sir! 'Tain't fair!" cried the boy. "I couldn't help it, sir. It was our fellows, sir, marching into camp--the --th, sir--Rifles, sir. Ain't seen them, sir, since I was shot down. Don't be hard on a fellow, sir! So glad to see them, sir. You might have done the same. I only wanted to give them a cheer."

"Then go out and cheer them, sir," said the officer, frowning severely, but with a twinkle of mirth in his eye.--"There, Pen Gray, you know your duty. It is an important one, and I have given it to you in the full belief that you will well serve your country and your King."

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

NO MORE BUGLING.

That same night not only a regiment but a very strong brigade of the British army marched upon the important service that was in hand.

They marched only by night, and under Pen's guidance the French forces that had been besieging the old mine were utterly routed. This happened at a time when provisions were failing, and the _contrabandista_ captain saw nothing before him but surrender, for he had found to his dismay that the adit through which he had hoped to lead the Spanish monarch to safety had been blocked by the treacherous action of some follower--by whom, he could not tell, though he guessed that it was a question of bribery.

There was nothing for it but to die in defence of his monarch, and this they were prepared to do; but no further fierce fighting had taken place, for the French General, after securing every exit by the aid of his reinforcements, felt satisfied that he had only to wait for either surrender or the dash out by a forlorn hope, ready to die sword in hand.

Then came shortly what was to him a thorough surprise, and the routing of his forces by the British troops in an encounter which laid open a large tract of country and proved to be one of the greatest successes of Sir Arthur Wellesley's campaign.

The natural sequence was a meeting in the English General's tent, where the King was being entertained by the General himself. Here he expressed a desire to see again the brave young English youth to whom he owed so much, for he had learned the part Pen Gray had taken in his rescue.

It was one afternoon of such a day as well made the Peninsula deserve the name of Sunny Spain that the --th Rifles were on duty ready to perform their task of acting as escort to the dethroned Spanish monarch on his way back to his capital; and to the surprise of Pen a message was brought to him to come with his companion to the General's tent.

Here he was received by the King in person, and with a few earnest thanks for all he had done, the monarch presented him with a ring which he took from his finger. He followed this up by taking his watch and chain and presenting them to Punch, who took them in speechless wonder, looked from one to the other, and then whispered to Pen, "He means this for you."

The General heard his words, and said quietly, "No, my lad; keep your present. Your friend and companion has yet to be paid for the modest and brave way in which he performed his duties in guiding our force.-- Private Gray, his Majesty here is in full agreement with that which I am about to do. It is this--which is quite within my powers as General of his Britannic Majesty's forces. In exceptional cases promotion is given to young soldiers for bravery in the field. I have great pleasure in presenting you with your commission. Ensign Gray, I hope that some day I may call you Captain. The way is open to you now. I wish you every success."

"Oh, I say!" cried Punch, as soon as they were alone.

The boy could say no more, for he was half-choking with emotion. But within an hour he was with Pen again bursting with news and ready to announce, "No more bugling! Hooray! I am the youngest full private in our corps!"

THE END.