Did ever an unhappy soldier find himself called upon to make order among so motley a crew! Even my good friend the Fleming cannot so avail here, nor does Petrinus, in his "De re militari," lay down any injunctions as to the method of drilling a man who is armed with a sickle or a scythe.' 'Shoulder scythe, port scythe, present scythe--mow!' whispered Reuben to Sir Gervas, and the pair began to laugh, heedless of the angry frowns of Saxon.
'Let us divide them,' he said, 'into three companies of eighty men.

Or stay--how many musketeers have we in all?
Five-and-fifty.

Let them stand forward, and form the first line or company.

Sir Gervas Jerome, you have officered the militia of your county, and have doubtless some knowledge of the manual exercise.

If I am commandant of this force I hand over the captaincy of this company to you.