sand-bags to do with the
matter? He moved among the gun's crew, and none said him nay; his
hands were on the gun after the accredited gunlayer's. We shelled
another position, and then another. Afterwards came a lull, and
some of us hurried up to breakfast.

There was much talk there of the possible or probable slaughter
we had effected. Doubtless the store ship that had followed us
and hung behind us had served us well. Those on shore Had surely
been more disposed to hold to their positions, fearing that she
carried troops, and meant to land them. Now she was steaming
slowly away. How many did our bag amount to? The Intelligence
Officer was sanguine, so was my colleague, but the gunnery
officer was rather pessimistic. 'Two or three of those rounds
went just wrong,' he grunted. 'We've struck a bad day.' After
that the porridge and the bacon and the eggs were done with; we
were soon back at our stations. Once more our gun bombarded. Once
more no answer came. Now occurred the cruise of the motor boat;
the best adventure of the day so far, as it seemed to me.

The boat was lowered, and the shore Maxim mounted in it. Sand
bags were piled up in plenty. A Naval Reserve officer, fair-haired
and young faced, sprang in to join the gun's officer. There was
also a British bluejacket ready to go, and there were African
soldiers and sailors, as well as the two engine-men, English and
Goanese. They were to beat up the river, and hunt down canoes,
should any appear.

My heart thrilled as I uttered God-speed to the Maxim warden. I
think he was unmarried, but his fellow officer was both husband
and father; they might have a fiery time in front. Last my
graceful friend, with no stars or badges on his khaki, slipped
into the boat. He seemed to come and go as he liked, and none
refused his services. The boat hummed away from us, past some
rocks, and round a headland into the unseen. Then our ship
traveled on slowly, before she stopped and fired again. She shot
away many rounds that time. I was sick and weary of the firing as
I sat on the deck by the doctor's cabin. My colleague was much
more alert and cheerful. He had secured a shell-case by the naval
commander's bounty. 'They make such splendid trophies,' he told
me. But I did not covet one much. I thought of how such war
trophies were in demand for Christmas decoration vases in a
church by the lakeside. I also thought of the quite possible
horror and havoc of shattered askaris' bod