e waiting in this manner," he boomed;
"perfectly monstrous." The next moment the door was shut and bolted,
and Draycott followed the Lascar's example--just in time: green
dressing-gown was returning with his sponge. In official parlance, a
general action seemed imminent. . . .

It opened with the crash of heavy artillery in the shape of strange and
loud expletives of an Indian nature, to be followed immediately by an
attack in force on the hostile position. This resulted in a sanguinary
repulse, and the attacking party hopped round, apparently in pain,
nursing a stubbed toe. The temporary set-back, however, seemed only to
raise the _morale_ of the force; and after a further heavy bombardment
of a similar nature to the one before, a succession of blows were
delivered in rapid succession at all points along the front, which
suddenly gave way and the victor was precipitated in some confusion,
but triumphant, upon the floor of the captured position.

How true it is, that great utterance of our hand-books on war! "Every
leader must bear in mind the necessity of immediately consolidating a
newly won position, in order to resist the counter-attack of the enemy,
which sooner or later is bound to be launched."

In this case it was distinctly sooner. With a loud shout the defending
troops arose from a recumbent position--to wit, the bath--and with
deadly accuracy launched the contents of a large bucket of hot water
upon the still prostrate foe.

"What is the meaning of this monstrous intrusion?" The battle cry of
the purples rang through the quivering air.

"You s'scoundrel! you impudent s'scoundrel!"

With a loud spluttering noise the greens got up and assumed a
belligerent attitude. "You m'miserable villain! that is _my_ bath.
How d'dare you--how d'dare you--throw w'water over me. D'do you know
what I am, sir? I am a Major-General, sir, and I shall report your
infamous c'conduct to the captain."

"And I, sir," howled his opponent, "will have you put in irons; I will
have you chained to the crow's-nest, if they have one on board.
Keel-hauled, sir, amongst the barnacles and things. I, sir, I am a
Lieutenant-General."

Draycott was still slightly dazed when he landed in Malta.

IX

Thus did he reach the Half Way House on his journey to the Land; and at
that Half Way House he was destined to remain for a short space. It
may be that there is a harder school than forced inaction; if so, I
have no desire to