noon
or Hogan-Yale of the White Hussars , leading his squadron for all it was worth , with the price of horseshoes thrown in ; or ` Tick ' Boileau , trying to live up to his fierce blue and gold turban while the wasps of the Bengal Cavalry stretched to a gallop in the wake of the long , lollopping Walers of the White Hussars . They fought through the clear cool day , and Bobby felt a little thrill run down his spine when he heard the tinkle-tinkle-tinkle of the empty cartridge-cases hopping from the breech-blocks after the roar of the volleys ; for he knew that he should live to hear that sound in action . The review ended in a glorious chase across the plain batteries thundering after cavalry to the huge disgust of the White Hussars , and the Tyneside Tail Twisters hunting a Sikh Regiment , till the lean lathy Singhs panted with exhaustion . Bobby was dusty and dripping long before noon , but his enthusiasm was merely focused not diminished . He returned to sit at the feet of Revere , his ` skipper , ' that is to say , the Captain of his Company , and to be instructed in the dark art and mystery of managing men , which is a very large part of the Profession of Arms . ` If you have n't a taste that way , ' said Revere between his puffs of his cheroot , ` you 'll never be able to get the hang of it , but remember , Bobby , ` t is n't the best drill , though drill is nearly everything , that hauls a Regiment through Hell and out on the other side . It 's the man who knows how to handle men goat-men , swine-men , dog-men , and so on . '