Sandbag Redoubt, where the condensing ship
did duty, sometimes at the southeast end of the harbour where the Indian
Contingent watered. Coolin hated the duty, and because he was in a
bitter mood his tongue was like a leaf of aloe.

"I'll be drinkin' condinsed spirits an' 'atin' hay-cake whip the
vultures do be peckin' at what's lift uv ye whip the Subadar's done wid
ye. I'd a drame about ye last noight, William Connor dear--three times I
dramed it."

Suddenly Connor's face was clouded. "Whist, thin, Coolin," said he
hoarsely. "Hadendowas I've no fear uv, an' Subadars are Injy nagurs
anyhow, though fellow-soldiers uv the Queen that's good to shtand
befront uv biscuit-boxes or behoind thim; an' wan has no fear of the
thing that's widout fear, an' death's iron enters in aisy whip mortial
strength's behind it. But drames--I've had enough uv drames in me toime,
I have that, Coolin!" He shuddered a little. "What was it ye dramed
again, Coolin? Was there anything but the dramin'--anny noise, or sound,
or spakin'?"

Coolin lied freely, for to disturb William Connor was little enough
compensation for being held back at Suakim while the Berkshires and the
Sikhs were off for a scrimmage in the desert.

"Nothin' saw I wid open eye, an' nothin' heard," he answered; "but I
dramed twice that I saw ye lyin' wid y'r head on y'r arm and a hole
in y'r jacket. Thin I waked suddin', an' I felt a cold wind goin' over
me--three toimes; an' a hand was laid on me own face, an' it was cold
an' smooth-like the hand uv a Sikh, William Connor dear."

Connor suddenly caught Coolin's arm. "D'ye say that!" said he. "Shure,
I'll tell ye now why the chills rin down me back whin I hear uv y'r
drame. Thrue things are drames, as I'll prove to ye--as quare as
condinsation an' as thrue, Coolin; fer condinsation comes out uv
nothin', and so do drames.... There was Mary Haggarty, Coolin--ye'll not
be knowin' Mary Haggarty. It was mornin' an' evenin' an' the first day
uv the world where she were. That was Mary Haggarty. An' ivery shtep she
tuk had the spring uv the first sod of Adin. Shure no, ye didn't know
Mary Haggarty, an' ye niver will, Coolin, fer the sod she trod she's
lyin' under, an' she'll niver rise up no more."

"Fer choice I'll take the sod uv Erin to the sand uv the Soudan," said
Coolin.

"Ye'll take what ye can get, Coolin; fer wid a splinterin' bullet in y'r
gizzard ye lie where ye fall."

"But Mary Haggarty, Connor?"

"I was drinkin