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Terence remained for some little time longer chatting, and then got possession of his kit, which was carried by Tim Hoolan across to his quarters. "We are all sorry you've left us, yer honour," that worthy said, as he walked a short distance behind Terence; "the rigiment won't be like itself widout you.
"There is a shindy in the town, your honour," he said to the colonel. "Meself does not know what it is about; but they are hallooing and bawling fit to kill themselves." One of the officers went to the window and threw it up. "Hoolan is right, Colonel; there is something the matter. There " he broke off as a church bell pealed out with loud and rapid strokes.
"Whin there is nothing to do, Debenham, I can take me liquor in moderation." "I have never remarked that, O'Grady," one of the others put in. "In great moderation," O'Grady said, gravely, but he was again interrupted by a shout of laughter. "Ye had to be helped home last night, O'Grady, and it took Hoolan a quarter of an hour to wake you this morning.
Here, Terence, you can have this horn." The difficulty of drinking had to some extent been solved by Hoolan, who had gone downstairs, and returned with a tin pot capable of holding about a couple of quarts. This he had cleaned by rubbing it with sand and water, and it went round as a loving-cup among those unprovided with mugs or horns.
"Attention, Tim!" Terence said, sharply. They had now entered the village, and the burst of laughter in which Hoolan indulged at the thought of the regiment being turned out on a false alarm was unseemly, as he was accompanying an officer. So Tim straightened himself up, and then followed in Terence's footsteps with military precision and stiffness.
In this he was a good deal aided by the man's two nieces, who acted as his assistants, and who were much quicker in catching his meaning than was the landlord himself. Very soon the room below was crowded with officers from other regiments, and Hoolan went up to Terence: "I think, Mr. O'Connor, that it would be a good job if you were to go down and buy a dozen of them hams.
"I don't think that there is much harm in it under the present circumstances," Terence laughed. "It is not sport, but it is food. I am afraid, Tim, that you must have been poaching a good deal at home or you would never have thought of buying lime before starting on this march." "I would scorn to take in an Oirish fish, yer honour!" Hoolan said, indignantly.
No; they have got there, and there they have got to stop, bad cess to them! I told Hoolan to rub grease into them for an hour last night, but the rascal was as drunk as an owl." There was no more talking, for every man felt that an hour's sleep would do wonders for him; soon absolute quiet reigned in the grove, and continued until the bugle again called them to their feet.
With some difficulty and much gesticulation Terence succeeded. The names of the officers were written down on a paper and it was then fastened on the door. "Now, Terence, I will go and fetch the boys; you and Hoolan make the landlord understand that we want food and wine for fifteen or sixteen officers. Of course they won't all be able to get away at once.
Ryan, and he caught two beauties yesterday evening." "Thank you, Hoolan. Fond as I am of fishing, I wonder it did not strike me before. I can make a line by plaiting some office string, with twisted horse-hair instead of gut." "I expect that that is just what Mr. Ryan did, yer honour. I heard the adjutant using powerful language this morning because he could not find a ball of twine."
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