n bottle
into his pocket, and listened with unusual interest to the last hymn of
the Army. Jonah, with one eye on the policeman, looked worried, as if
he were struggling with a desire to join the Army and lead a pure life.
The policeman looked hard at them and turned away.

The pair were making a strategic movement to the rear, when the two
girls who had exchanged shots with Chook at the corner passed them.
The fat girl tapped Jonah on the back. He turned with a start.

"Nit yer larks!" he cried. "I thought it was the cop."

"Cum 'ere, Joe; I want yer," said the girl.

"Wot's up now?" he cried, following her along the street.

They stood in earnest talk for some minutes, while Chook complimented
the red-headed girl on her wit.

"Yer knocked me sky-'igh," he confessed, with a leer.

"Did I?"

"Yer did. Gi' me one straight on the point," he admitted.

"Yous keep a civil tongue in yer head," she cried, and the curious pink
flush spread over her white skin.

"Orl right, wot are yer narked about?" inquired Chook.

He noticed, with surprise, that she was pretty, with small regular
features; her eyes quick and bright, like a bird's. Under the gaslight
her hair was the colour of a new penny.

"W'y, I don't believe yer 'air is red," said Chook, coming nearer.

"Now then, keep yer 'ands to yerself," cried the girl, giving him a
vigorous push. Before he could repeat his attack, she walked away to
join Ada, who hailed her shrilly.

Jonah rejoined his mate in gloomy silence. The Push had
scattered--some to the two-up school, some to the dance-room. The
butcher's flare of lights shone with a desolate air on piles of bones
and scraps of meat--the debris of battle. The greengrocer's was
stripped bare to the shelves, as if an army of locusts had marched
through with ravenous tooth.

"Comin' down the street?" asked Chook, feeling absently in his pockets.

"No," said Jonah.

"W'y, wot's up now?" inquired Chook in surprise.

"Oh, nuthin'; but I'm goin' ter sleep at Ada's tonight," replied Jonah,
staring at the shops.

"'Strewth!" cried Chook, looking at him in wonder. "Wot's the game
now?"

"Oh! the old woman wants me ter put in the night there. Says some
blokes 'ave bin after 'er fowls," replied Jonah, hesitating like a boy
inventing an excuse.

"Fowls!" cried Chook, with infinite scorn. "Wants yer to nuss the
bloomin' kid."

"My oath, she don't," replied Jonah, with great heartiness.

"Well, g