It was time to strike while the iron was hot. Their hearts beat tumultuously.
"Beg y' pardon, Sir," began Jakin. "The Reg'ment's ordered on active service, Sir?"
"So I believe," said the Colonel courteously.
"Is the Band goin', Sir?" said both together. Then, without pause, "We're goin', Sir, ain't we?"
"You!" said the Colonel, stepping back the more fully to take in the two small figures. "You! You'd die on the first march."
"No, we wouldn't, Sir. We can march with the Regiment anywheres—p'rade an' anywheres else," said Jakin.
"If Tom Kidd goes 'e'll shut up like a clasp-knife," said Lew. "Tom 'as very close veins in both 'is legs, Sir."
"Very how much?"
"Very close veins, Sir. That's why they swells after long p'rade, Sir. If 'e can go, we can go, Sir."
Again the Colonel looked at them long and intently.
"Yes, the Band is going," he said as gravely as though he had been addressing a brother officer. "Have you any parents, either of you two?"
"No, Sir," rejoicingly from Lew and Jakin. "We're both orphins, Sir. There's no one to be considered of 'long on our account, Sir."
"You poor little sprats, and you want to go up to the Front with the Regiment, do you? Why?"
"I've wore the Queen's Uniform for two years," said Jakin. "It's very 'ard, Sir, that a man don't get no recompense for doin' 'is dooty, Sir."
"An'—an' if I don't go, Sir," interrupted Lew, "the Bandmaster 'e says 'e'll catch an' make a bloo—a blessed musician o' me, Sir. Before I've seen any service, Sir."
The Colonel made no answer for a long time. Then he said quietly:—"If you're passed by the Doctor I dare say you can go. I shouldn't smoke if I were you."
The boys saluted and disappeared. The Colonel walked home and told the story to his wife, who cried over it.
