FROM FATHIGARH TO CAWNPORE. 317 



writes on the 14tli, " I am actually nearer to a total 

 cure than the men (Sikhs even) who were wounded 

 the same day. My abstinence from spirit-drinking 

 has stood me in good stead." 



February 16 proved indeed for Hodson a red- 

 letter day. He had at last seen his friend Napier, 

 who rode over with Sir Colin Campbell to the camp 

 at Unao. " He is looking better, but older, than 

 when we parted ; but his charming affectionate 

 manner is as nice as ever. God bless him ! I do 

 love him dearly, as if he were indeed my born 

 brother. A note from him arrived while he was 

 here : it had been three days going ten miles ! Sir 

 Colin was most kind and cordial, and prophesies I 

 shall soon be lieutenant-colonel. I told him I feared 

 there was small hope of that, unless my majority 

 could be counted as for the Punjab campaign, as 

 Lord Dalhousie promised, but that it had not been 

 put on record. He immediately said, ' Oh, I'll do 

 that with the greatest pleasure. Let me have a 

 memorandum of your services, and I'll do all I can 

 for you.' They do say I shall have the Victoria 

 Cross ; but I do not believe it." 



On the 18th he rode over to Cawnpore to have 

 " a big talk " with Napier. The big talk lasted for 

 two days. On the 20th he returned to Unao, 

 accompanied for part of the way by Colonels 

 Napier and Lugard, the latter of whom had just 

 been appointed to the command of a division as 

 brigadier - general. By that time Hodson had 

 learned that the delay in gazetting him as brevet- 

 major " was an accident, not owing to the home 

 authorities. It has gone home now, and my name 

 is in it, Sir Colin told me." 



