CHAP. V.] Iies after a Butterfly. 91 
ing in numbers to the guard-house for being drunk and dis- 
orderly. Even during parade many of the men were put 
under arrest for insubordination, chiefly because of the in- 
sulting language they used toward their officers. 
The militia were only embodied for four weeks. During 
the first fortnight, the awkward squads were drilled with- 
out arms of any sort. It was only during the last fort- 
night that they were provided with muskets and bayonets. 
The company to which Edward belonged was drilling one 
day on the links. It was a bright, sunny afternoon. The 
company was marching along near the lower part of the 
links, when a large brown butterfly flitted past. Edward 
saw it in an instant. He had never seen the like of that 
butterfly before!* Without thinking for a moment of 
what he was doing, he flew after it—among the bents and 
sand hillocks, grasping after it with his hand. 
“A very hunter did he rush 
Upon the prey: with leaps and springs 
He followed on from brake to bush.” 
The butterfly eluded him; it flew away before him. 
Again he rushed after it, losing his bonnet in the hunt. 
He was nearing the spot where it had alighted. He would 
catch it now, when suddenly he was gripped by the neck! 
He looked round, and saw it was the corporal of his com- 
pany, with four militiamen behind him. 
_ Looking Edward sternly in the face, the corporal said, 
“What's up, Edward?” “Nothing.” ‘The deuce!” “No, 
it wasn’t that—it was a splendid butterfly.” ‘A butter- 
devil!” “No! it was a butter-fy/”’ “Stuff!” said the 
corporal; “are you mad?’ “No; I don’t think I am.” 
“You look like a madman; and I'll tell you what it is, 
you'll have to pay for this.” ‘For what? “For break- 
ing away from the ranks during drill. I am sent to arrest 
you and take you to the guard-house: so come along!” 
* It proved to be a brown fritillery, 
