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man's。 A common soldier； poor brute though you called him just now；
has this advantage in the stormy times we live in； that he always
does his duty before a host of sympathising witnesses。 Do you doubt
that he may so do it as to be extolled through a whole regiment；
through a whole army； through a whole country？ Turn while you may
yet retrieve the past； and try。〃
〃I will！ I ask for only one witness； sir；〃 cried Richard； with a
bursting heart。
〃I understand you。 I will be a watchful and a faithful one。〃
I have heard from Private Richard Doubledick's own lips； that he
dropped down upon his knee； kissed that officer's hand； arose； and
went out of the light of the dark； bright eyes； an altered man。
In that year； one thousand seven hundred and ninety…nine； the French
were in Egypt； in Italy； in Germany； where not？ Napoleon Bonaparte
had likewise begun to stir against us in India； and most men could
read the signs of the great troubles that were coming on。 In the
very next year； when we formed an alliance with Austria against him；
Captain Taunton's regiment was on service in India。 And there was
not a finer non…commissioned officer in it；no； nor in the whole
linethan Corporal Richard Doubledick。
In eighteen hundred and one； the Indian army were on the coast of
Egypt。 Next year was the year of the proclamation of the short
peace； and they were recalled。 It had then become well known to
thousands of men； that wherever Captain Taunton； with the dark；
bright eyes； led； there； close to him； ever at his side； firm as a
rock； true as the sun； and brave as Mars； would be certain to be
found； while life beat in their hearts； that famous soldier；
Sergeant Richard Doubledick。
Eighteen hundred and five； besides being the great year of
Trafalgar； was a year of hard fighting in India。 That year saw such
wonders done by a Sergeant…Major； who cut his way single…handed
through a solid mass of men； recovered the colours of his regiment；
which had been seized from the hand of a poor boy shot through the
heart； and rescued his wounded Captain； who was down； and in a very
jungle of horses' hoofs and sabres；saw such wonders done； I say；
by this brave Sergeant…Major； that he was specially made the bearer
of the colours he had won； and Ensign Richard Doubledick had risen
from the ranks。
Sorely cut up in every battle； but always reinforced by the bravest
of men；for the fame of following the old colours； shot through and
through； which Ensign Richard Doubledick had saved； inspired all
breasts；this regiment fought its way through the Peninsular war；
up to the investment of Badajos in eighteen hundred and twelve。
Again and again it had been cheered through the British ranks until
the tears had sprung into men's eyes at the mere hearing of the
mighty British voice； so exultant in their valour； and there was not
a drummer…boy but knew the legend； that wherever the two friends；
Major Taunton； with the dark； bright eyes； and Ensign Richard
Doubledick； who was devoted to him； were seen to go； there the
boldest spirits in the English army became wild to follow。
One day； at Badajos；not in the great storming； but in repelling a
hot sally of the besieged upon our men at work in the trenches； who
had given way；the two officers found themselves hurrying forward；
face to face； against a party of French infantry； who made a stand。
There was an officer at their head； encouraging his men；a
courageous； handsome； gallant officer of five…and…thirty； whom
Doubledick saw hurriedly； almost momentarily； but saw well。 He
particularly noticed this officer waving his sword； and rallying his
men with an eager and excited cry； when they fired in obedience to
his gesture； and Major Taunton dropped。
It was over in ten minutes more； and Doubledick returned to the spot
where he had laid the best friend man ever had on a coat spread upon
the wet clay。 Major Taunton's uniform was opened at the breast； and
on his shirt were three little spots of blood。
〃Dear Doubledick；〃 said he； 〃I am dying。〃
〃For the love of Heaven； no！〃 exclaimed the other； kneeling down
beside him； and passing his arm round his neck to raise his head。
〃Taunton！ My preserver； my guardian angel； my witness！ Dearest；
truest； kindest of human beings！ Taunton！ For God's sake！〃
The bright； dark eyesso very； very dark now； in the pale face
smiled upon him； and the hand he had kissed thirteen years ago laid
itself fondly on his breast。
〃Write to my mother。 You will see Home again。 Tell her how we
became friends。 It will comfort her； as it comforts me。〃
He spoke no more； but faintly signed for a moment towards his hair
as it fluttered in the wind。 The Ensign understood him。 He smiled
again when he saw that； and； gently turning his face over on the
supporting arm as if for rest； died； with his hand upon the breast
in which he had revived a soul。
No dry eye looked on Ensign Richard Doubledick that melancholy day。
He buried his friend on the field； and became a lone； bereaved man。
Beyond his duty he appeared to have but two remaining cares in
life；one； to preserve the little packet of hair he was to give to
Taunton's mother； the other； to encounter that French officer who
had rallied the men under whose fire Taunton fell。 A new legend now
began to circulate among our troops； and it was； that when he and
the French officer came face to face once more； there would be
weeping in France。
The war went onand through it went the exact picture of the French
officer on the one side； and the bodily reality upon the other
until the Battle of Toulouse was fought。 In the returns sent home
appeared these words： 〃Severely wounded； but not dangerously；
Lieutenant Richard Doubledick。〃
At Midsummer…time； in the year eighteen hundred and fourteen；
Lieutenant Richard Doubledick； now a browned soldier； seven…and…
thirty years of age； came home to England invalided。 He brought the
hair with him； near his heart。 Many a French officer had he seen
since that day； many a dreadful night； in searching with men and
lanterns for his wounded； had he relieved French officers lying
disabled； but the mental picture and the reality had never come
together。
Though he was weak and suffered pain； he lost not an hour in getting
down to Frome in Somersetshire； where Taunton's mother lived。 In
the sweet； compassionate words that naturally present themselves to
the mind to…night； 〃he was the only son of his mother； and she was a
widow。〃
It was a Sunday evening； and the lady sat at her quiet garden…
window； reading the Bible； reading to herself； in a trembling voice；
that very passage in it； as I have heard him tell。 He heard the
words： 〃Young man； I say unto thee； arise！〃
He had to pass the window； and the bright； dark eyes of his debased
time seemed to look at him。 Her heart told her who he was； she came
to the door quickly； and fell upon his neck。
〃He saved me from ruin； made me a human creature； won me from infamy
and shame。 O； God for ever bless him！ As He will； He Will！〃
〃He will！〃 the lady answered。 〃I know he is in heaven！〃 Then she
piteously cried； 〃But O； my darling boy； my darling boy！〃
Never from the hour when Private Richard Doubledick enlisted at
Chatham had the Private； Corporal； Sergeant； Sergeant…Major； Ensign；
or Lieutenant breathed his right name； or the name of Mary Marshall；
or a word of the story of his life； into any ear except his
reclaimer's。 That previous scene in his existence was closed。 He
had firmly resolved that his expiation should be to live unknown； to
disturb no more the peace that had long grown over his old offences；
to let it be revealed； when he was dead； that he had striven and
suffered； and had never forgotten； and then； if they could forgive
him and believe himwell； it would be time enoughtime enough！
But that night； remembering the words he had cherished for two
years； 〃Tell her how we became friends。 It will comfort her； as it
comforts me；〃 he related everything。 It gradually seemed to him as
if in his maturity he had recovered a mother； it gradually seemed to
her as if in her bereavement she had found a son。 During his stay
in England； the quiet garden into which he had slowly and painfully
crept； a stranger； became the boundary of his home； when he was able
to rejoin his regiment in the spring； he left the garden； thinking
was this indeed the first time he had ever turned his face towards
the old colours with a woman's blessing！
He followed themso ragged； so scarred and pierced now； that they
would scarcely hold togetherto Quatre Bras and Ligny。 He stood
beside them； in an awful stillness of many men； shadowy through the
mist and drizzle of a wet June forenoon； on the field of Waterloo。
And down to that hour the picture in his mind of the French officer
had never been compared with the