above the humble, though estimable rank of
trooper, and his tunic fell far short of covering his lengthy arms.
Between bursts of laughter, they chatted away on these eccentricities,
and inspected the rest of the garments with a critical eye, commented
on their fitness for the field, and hung them finally on nails in the
wall. Regretfully they turned into bunk, and sank into sleep too deep
for dreaming.

The next day Mac came across George at work on a break in a fence.

"Good mornin', Mac, me boy. How's things? This 'ere slip do be a fair
devil."

"Oh, stock's all right. What d'you think of what's happening?"

"Aw, yer mean this 'ere row in Yourope? It's a bit of a business,
ain't it?" George was contemplatively filling his well-seasoned
cherry, and spoke of Europe as a sort of detached planet, and of its
concerns as far from likely to set going eddies in these wild hills.
"I reckon as they'll 'ave a bit of a go. Wot d'you think?"

"I'm off to it, George, by the first bloomin' boat that goes."

"Haw! Haw! Haw!" roared the old boy, throwing his head back, and
swaying with the fullness of his mirth. "What an 'ell of a joke."
Mac, too, chuckled as he sat in the saddle.

"True, dink, George, I'm going."

"Go on! Yer can't kid me that. Why the bloomin' thing's in Yourope,
an' it'll be all over in a couple o' shakes."

"Never mind. I'm off. And so's Charley."

But George was not to be persuaded, and Mac left him still enjoying the
joke.

That night a distant voice on the telephone said it was probable that
an overseas force would be despatched as soon as possible, and inquired
if they would willingly volunteer.

"You bet your boots!" Mac shouted down the line.

"Good," said the voice. "The whole Regiment has so far volunteered."

Three or four days passed wearily by, for all interest had gone out of
the old life and they were restless for the new. Disturbing rumours
came vaguely from without of an overseas force ready and about to sail,
and Charley and Mac unanimously decided that they were too far from the
centre of things, and that they must proceed closer to civilization
without delay. Finishing the day's work, they went through the
Saturday overhaul and made themselves presentable in public, saddled
the horses, and, in the refreshing spring evening, rode away down the
narrow winding road through glades of bush and lonely valleys to the
railway line. There they stayed at a neighbouring h