Robert Michael Ballantyne

In the Track of the Troops Robert Michael Ballantyne

Much to my surprise, I found that neither Nicholas Naranovitsch nor Bella nor my mother wouldconsent to witness my experiments with dynamite that day. As my old chum approached to greet me on the lawn before breakfast the day following, I could nothelp admiring his fine, tall, athletic figure. I don't know how it is, but I have always felt, somehow, asif I looked up at him, although we were both exactly the same height-six feet one without ourboots. I suppose it must have been owing to his standing so erect, while I slouched a little. Perhapsmy looking up to him mentally had something to do with it."You'll come to-day, won't you?" I said, referring to the experiments."Of course I will, old boy; but," he added, with a smile, "only on one condition.""What may that be?""That you don't bother Bella with minute details."Of course I promised not to say a word unless asked for explanations, and after breakfast we allwent to a part of the grounds which I wished to bring under cultivation. It was at that timeencumbered with several large trees, old roots, and a number of boulders."Come along with us, Lancey," I said to the groom, who was also my laboratory assistant, andwhom I met in the stable-yard, the scene of his memorable blowing-up. "I am about to try the effectof an explosive, and wish you to understand the details.""Yes, sir," replied Lancey, with a respectful touch of his cap; "I must say, sir, if you'll allow me, Inever knowed any one like you, sir, for goin' into details except one, and that one-""Ah, yes, I know, that was your friend the Scotch boy," said I, interrupting; but Lancey was aprivileged servant, and would not be interrupted."Yes, sir," he resumed, "the Scotch boy Sandy. We was at school together in Edinburgh, where I gotthe most o' my edication, and I never did see such a boy, sir, for goin' into-""Yes, yes, Lancey, I know; but I haven't time to talk about him just now. We are going to the bit ofwaste ground in the hollow; follow us there."