He was accordingly taken directly to the home of his host. A few moments later he was stretched at length on the uncompromising bed in the guest chamber, quite unmindful of Mrs. Cane's best lace bedspread, his eyes closed, his mind at rest, his body totally relaxed. How deliciously quiet it was! Even the birds had ceased their springtime chatter. Sleep seemed about to overcome him when he became dimly conscious of a distant throbbing sound.
At first it was rather soothing than otherwise, but as it became louder it began to be annoying. It seemed to come at regular intervals. Throb--throb--throb-throb-throb! He could no longer escape the conviction that it was a distant drumbeat. After a little he could no longer escape the conviction that it was not so distant. Then the piping of fifes could be heard. No tune could be detected, but still it was not a sound that would have been regarded as sleep-inducing.
Mr. and Mrs. Cane were nowhere about. Having the carriage at their disposal for the day they had gone for a little drive in the country. When they drew up before the house an hour later they were very much surprised to see their guest striding up and down the long veranda, his hands clasped behind his back beneath the skirts of his coat, his tall hat on the back of his noble head, and a fat cigar in the corner of his mouth.
"Couldn't seem to rest ... mind too active, I suppose ... thinking up a little something to say this afternoon ... brain works best when my feet are in motion," were a few of the fragments they caught as he strode back and forth.
Mrs. Cane expressed mild surprise. "Couldn't sleep!" she said. "It's so lovely and quiet--I don't see how you could fail to catch a few winks. Our other advantages sometimes fail us, but we can always rely on peace and quietude here in the country."
The colonel made no reply as he continued his beat. After a few rounds he brought up before Mrs. Cane and asked irrelevantly, "Is there a band or a drum corps in this town?"
"Oh, yes!" she assured him. "We have an excellent cornet band and a drum corps as well."
"You'll hear them both this afternoon," Mr. Cane volunteered. "They're sure to be in the parade."
"Where do they do their practicing?" pursued the colonel.
