grumbled. "She always takes
refuge in her tongue."

"While you, Mr. Hawkes, take refuge--"

But the other arose indignantly and strode into the gloom. Meanwhile
Barnes, while dressing the injury, discovered near the cut an old scar
thoroughly healed, but so large and jagged it attracted his
attention.

"That hurt was another matter," said he, touching it.

Was it the manager's fingers or his words caused Saint-Prosper to
wince? "Yes, it was another matter," he replied, hurriedly. "An Arab
spear--or something of the kind!"

"Tell us about it," prattled Susan. "You have never told us anything
about Africa. It seems a forbidden subject."

"Perhaps he has a wife in Tangiers, or Cairo," laughed Kate.

"He was wed in Amsterdam,
Again in far Siam,
And after this
Sought triple bliss
And married in Hindustan,"

sang Susan.

The soldier made some evasive response to this raillery and then
became silent. Soon quiet prevailed in the encampment; only out of the
recesses of the forest came the menacing howl of a vagabond wolf.

"Such," says Barnes in his notebook, "is the true history of an
adventure which created some talk at the time. A perilous, regrettable
business at best, but we acted according to our light and were enabled
thereafter to requite our obligations, which could not have been done
had they seized the properties, poor garments of players' pomp; tools
whereby we earned our meager livelihood. If, after this explanation,
anyone still has aught of criticism, I must needs be silent, not
controverting his censure.

"With some amusement I learned that our notable belligerent, Mr.
Gough, was well-nigh reduced to the same predicament as that in which
we found ourselves. He could not complain of his audiences, and the
Band of Hope gained many recruits by his coming, but, through some
misapprehension, the customary collections were overlooked. The last
night of the lecture, the chairman of the evening, at the conclusion
of the address, arose and said: 'I move we thank Mr. Gough for his
eloquent effort and then adjourn.'

"The motion prevailed, and the gathering was about to disperse when
the platform bludgeon-man held them with a gesture. 'Will you kindly
put your thanks in writing, that I may offer it for my hotel bill,'
said he.

"But for this quick wit and the gathering's response to the ap