132 HARK FORRARDI 



unmercifully, and invariably called tliem the 

 buttermilk soldiers. Tlie quartermaster of 

 Reginald's troop was an enormously fat man, 

 and on this occasion the lads were as usual 

 shouting out, ' Leuk at th' buttermilk soldiers, 

 leuk yer at th' buttermilk soldiers,' when one 

 smart lad, espying the quartermaster, shouted 

 out, '- Boy goy, lads, 'ere's t' churn hisself.' 

 Roars of laughter followed this sally, and the 

 name, as may be imagined, stuck to the un- 

 fortunate quartermaster ever after. 



Davis the blacksmith was the troop farrier, 

 and though an excellent farrier, he did not 

 shine as a cavalry soldier : in fact he was never 

 quite sure which way to turn when the command 

 was ' Fours right,' or ' left,' as the case might 

 be. On one occasion Reginald remonstrated 

 with him quietly, after he had invariably 

 wheeled his horse to the left when the word 

 was ' Fours right,' and vice versa. ' Well, 

 squoire,' said he, leaning confidentially forward 

 in his saddle, and respectfully saluting with his 

 hand, as though he were on foot, ' it's loike 



