Sam and Cleary went off together with the captain, whose name was
Foster, to visit the lodgings assigned by the colonel. They were in a
building near by, which had been used as barracks by the Castalian
army. A number of rooms had been fitted up for the use of officers, and
Sam and Foster were to occupy one of these, an arrangement which
promised to be most comfortable. Five companies of their regiment were
quartered in the same building.
Cleary asked Foster's advice as to lodgings for himself, and Foster
took him off with him to find a place, while Sam was left to unpack his
luggage which had just arrived from the ship. They agreed to meet again
in the same room at nine o'clock in the evening.
It was somewhat after the hour fixed that the three men came together.
Foster brought out a bottle of whisky from a cupboard and put it on
the table by the water-jug, and then offered cigars. Sam had never
smoked before, but he felt that a soldier ought to smoke, and he
accepted the weed, and soon they were all seated, smoking and drinking,
and engaged in a lively conversation. Foster had been in the Cubapines
since the arrival of the first troops, and it was a treat for both of
his interlocutors to hear all the news at first hand from a participant
in the events.
"How were things when you got here?" asked Cleary.
"Well, it was like this," answered Foster.
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