CHAPTER X.
ON DETACHMENT.
Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.

He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.

A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.

He had had the good luck to have an excellent servant assigned to him.

Denis Mulligan was a thoroughly handy fellow, could turn his hand to anything, and was always good tempered and cheery.
"The fellow is rather free and easy in his ways," Captain O'Connor told Ralph when he allotted the man to him; "but you will get accustomed to that.