He had to devote some hours, every day, to acquiring the mysteries of drill.

It was, to him, somewhat funny to see the pains expended in assuring that each movement should be performed with mechanical accuracy; but he understood that, although useless for such warfare as that which they had before them, great accuracy in details was necessary, for ensuring uniformity of movement among large masses of men in an open country.
Otherwise, the time passed very pleasantly.

James soon became a favourite in the regiment, and the young officers were never tired of questioning him concerning the redskins, and their manner of fighting.
There were plenty of amusements.

The snow was deep on the ground, now, and the officers skated, practised with snowshoes, and drove in sleighs.

Occasionally they got up a dance, and the people of Albany, and the settlers round, vied with each other in their hospitality to the officers.
One day, in February, an orderly brought a message to James Walsham, that the colonel wished to speak to him.
"Walsham," he said, "I may tell you, privately, that the regiment is likely to form part of the expedition which is being fitted out, in England, against Louisbourg in Cape Breton, the key of Canada.