"Aye, and I'll ha' seen most of the world since I last clapped my eenon you, Harry," he exclaimed. "I've heard much about you, and it's glad Iam to be seein' you."

He told me his story. He'd gone for a soldier, richt enough, and beensent to India. He'd had trouble from the start; he was alwaysfighting, and while that's a soldier's trade, he's no supposed topractice it with his fellows, ye ken, but to save his wrath for theenemy. But, for once in a way, Andy's quarrelsome ways did him good.He sometimes was punished once for fighting wi' his corporal, and when hiscaptain came to look into things he found the trouble started becausethe corporal called him, the captain, out of his name. So he made Andyhis servant, and Andy served wi' him till he was killed in SouthAfrica.

Andy was wounded there, and invalided home. He was discharged, andsaid he'd ha' no more of the army--he'd liked that job no much better thanany other he'd ever had. His captain, in his will, left Andy twahunder pounds sterlin'--more siller than Andy's ever thought to fingerin his life.

"So it was that siller gave you your start, Andy, man?" I exclaimed.

He laughed.

"0h, aye!" he exclaimed. "And came near to givin' me my finish, too, Harry.I put the siller into a business down Portsmouth way--I set up for acontractor. I always was doin' fine, too, but a touring company came along,and there was a lassie wi' 'em so braw and bonnie I'd like to havedeed for love of her, man, Harry."