h
in-he-briated 'e is, the more fish 'e catches. They call 'im the Looney
Fishmonger in the Comp'ny, sir.'

Revere signed the last paper and the Sergeant retreated.

'It's a filthy amusement,' sighed Bobby to himself. Then aloud to
Revere: 'Are you really worried about Dormer?'

'A little. You see he's never mad enough to send to hospital, or drunk
enough to run in, but at any minute he may flare up, brooding and
sulking as he does. He resents any interest being shown in him, and the
only time I took him out shooting he all but shot me by accident.'

'I fish,' said Bobby with a wry face. 'I hire a country-boat and go down
the river from Thursday to Sunday, and the amiable Dormer goes with me
if you can spare us both.'

'You blazing young fool!' said Revere, but his heart was full of much
more pleasant words.

Bobby, the Captain of a dhoni, with Private Dormer for mate, dropped
down the river on Thursday morning the Private at the bow, the Subaltern
at the helm. The Private glared uneasily at the Subaltern, who respected
the reserve of the Private.

After six hours, Dormer paced to the stern, saluted, and said 'Beg y'
pardon, sir, but was you ever on the Durh'm Canal?'

'No,' said Bobby Wick. 'Come and have some tiffin.'

They ate in silence. As the evening fell, Private Dormer broke forth,
speaking to himself,

'Hi was on the Durh'm Canal, jes' such a night, come next week twelve
month, a-trailin' of my toes in the water.' He smoked and said no more
till bedtime.

The witchery of the dawn turned the gray river-reaches to purple, gold,
and opal; and it was as though the lumbering dhoni crept across the
splendours of a new heaven.

Private Dormer popped his head out of his blanket and gazed at the glory
below and around.

'Well damn my eyes!' said Private Dormer in an awed whisper. 'This 'ere
is like a bloomin' gallantry-show!' For the rest of the day he was dumb,
but achieved an ensanguined filthiness through the cleaning of big fish.

The boat returned on Saturday evening. Dormer had been struggling with
speech since noon. As the lines and luggage were being disembarked, he
found tongue.

'Beg y' pardon, sir,' he said, 'but would you would you min' shakin'
'ands with me, sir?'

'Of course not,' said Bobby, and he shook accordingly. Dormer returned
to barracks and Bobby to mess.

'He wanted a little quiet and some fishing, I think,' said Bobby. 'My
aunt, but he's a filthy sort of animal! Have you e