She scolded her officers until they became surly, and a few of them were disloyal enough to ask her to hold her tongue.

Others began to reproach her for leading them into difficulties and in the space of three unhappy days every man was mourning for his orchard in the pretty valley of Oogaboo.
Files, however, proved a different sort.

The more difficulties he encountered the more cheerful he became, and the sighs of the officers were answered by the merry whistle of the Private.

His pleasant disposition did much to encourage Queen Ann and before long she consulted the Private Soldier more often than she did his superiors.
It was on the third day of their pilgrimage that they encountered their first adventure.

Toward evening the sky was suddenly darkened and Major Nails exclaimed: "A fog is coming toward us." "I do not think it is a fog," replied Files, looking with interest at the approaching cloud.