The winter dragged on:  the weather was appalling:  the grousers gave tongue with no uncertain voice, each streaming field-day.  But Wee Pe’er enjoyed it all.  He did not care if it snowed ink.  He was a “sojer.”

One day, to his great delight, he was “warned for guard”—­a particularly unpopular branch of a soldier’s duties, for it means sitting in the guard-room for twenty-four hours at a stretch, fully dressed and accoutred, with intervals of sentry-go, usually in heavy rain, by way of exercise.  When Peter’s turn for sentry-go came on he splashed up and down his muddy beat—­the battalion was in billets now, and the usual sentry’s verandah was lacking—­as proud as a peacock, saluting officers according to their rank, challenging stray civilians with great severity, and turning out the guard on the slightest provocation.  He was at his post, soaked right through his greatcoat, when the orderly officer made his night round.  Peter summoned his colleagues; the usual inspection of the guard took place; and the sleepy men were then dismissed to their fireside.  Peter remained; the officer hesitated.  He was supposed to examine the sentry in his knowledge of his duties.  It was a profitless task as a rule.  The tongue-tied youth merely gaped like a stranded fish, until the sergeant mercifully intervened, in some such words as these—­

“This man, sirr, is liable to get over-excited when addressed by an officer.”

Then, soothingly—­

“Now, Jimmy, tell the officer what would ye dae in case of fire?”

“Present airrms!” announces the desperate James.  Or else, almost tearfully, “I canna mind.  I had it all fine just noo, but it’s awa’ oot o’ ma heid!”

Therefore it was with no great sense of anticipation that the orderly officer said to Private Carmichael,—­

“Now, sentry, can you repeat any of your duties?”

Peter saluted, took a full breath, closed both eyes, and replied rapidly,—­

“For tae tak’ chairge of all Government property within sicht of this guairdhoose tae turrn out the guaird for all arrmed pairties approaching also the commanding officer once a day tae salute all officers tae challenge all pairsons approaching this post tae—­”

His recital was interrupted by a fit of coughing.

“Thank you,” said the officer hastily; “that will do.  Good night!”

Peter, not sure whether it would be correct to say “good night” too, saluted again, and returned to his cough.

“I say,” said the officer, turning back, “you have a shocking cold.”

“Och, never heed it, sirr,” gasped Peter politely.

“Call the sergeant,” said the officer.

The fat sergeant came out of the guardhouse again, buttoning his tunic.

“Sirr?”

“Take this man off sentry-duty and roast him at the guard-room fire.”

“I will, sirr,” replied the sergeant; and added paternally, “this man has no right for to be here at all.  He should have reported sick when warned for guard; but he would not.  He is very attentive to his duties, sirr.”