Had I dined at Barnstaple it might have been suggested
that some one dined with me or drank my health. Whatever it was, the
revelation was not yet.
I was to return "as soon as I had dined." Everything was to be ready
for my reception.
All these instructions I obeyed with the greatest loyalty, and
returned at an early hour in the evening. But if I was disappointed at
my first reception, how was I elated by the second! All was made up
for by good feeling and enthusiasm. We were evidently all brothers
fighting for the sacred cause, but what the cause was I had not been
informed up to this time.
At the station was a local band of music waiting to receive me, and
to strike up the inspiring air, "See the conquering hero comes;" but,
unfortunately, the band consisted only of a drum, of such dimensions
that I thought it must have been built for the occasion, and a
clarionet.
Before the band struck up, however, I was greeted with such
enthusiastic outbursts that they might have brought tears into the
eyes of any one less firm than myself. "Orkins for ever!" roared
the multitude. It almost stunned me. Never could I have dreamt my
popularity would be so great. "Orkins for ever!" again and again
they repeated, each volley, if possible, louder than before. "Bravo,
Orkins! Let 'em 'ave it, Orkins! don't spare 'em." I wish I had known
what this meant.
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