thing for a private
soldier! A white elephant, Pete."

"Why, he's a blacky-grey 'un, sir. Wish I could be his mahout."

"Stuff! Where's Mr Durham gone?"

"Don't know, sir. Private instructions. Through the jungle somewhere,
I expect, so as to take Mr Suleiman in the rear. But I say, sir, you
don't mean to be kept in horspittle, do you?"

"No, Pete; I'm to be up to-morrow."

"Hooray, sir! I'm all right too--ready for anything. Try and put in a
word for me."

"Of course, Pete."

"Thank you, sir. You and me has had so much to do with this business
that they ought to let us go on in front over everything."

"We can't help it, Pete. Soldiers must obey orders. Still, there's one
thing: they can stick our bodies into hospital, but they can't stick our
hearts. They go where we like. Now, is there anything more you can
tell me about what's going on?"

"Can't recollect anything, sir. But I shall pick up everything I can;
you may depend upon that. I suppose you know, sir, that the Major's
chucking out the orders right and left, and it's all just as if we were
surrounded by the enemy."

"No, chuckle-head! How could I know all that? You mean, I suppose,
that the garrison is in a regular state of siege?"

"Yes, sir, that's it; only I couldn't put it like that. Don't be waxy
with a poor private as old Tipsy says is the most wooden-headed chap in
the company."

"Now go on telling me."

"Sentries are doubled, sir, and the chaps says it's precious hard now we
are so short of men."

"Then they should draw in the lines," said Archie eagerly.

"Yes, sir; that's what they have done."

"Oh, of all the thick-headed--Here, I won't get cross, Pete. But you do
make me wild. Why didn't you tell me all this?"

"Too stupid, I suppose, sir. But don't give me up. I will try better
next time. Want to ask me anything now, sir?"

"No. Be off."

"You don't mean you are sacking me, do you, sir?" half-whimpered Peter.

"No-o-o-o! Be off. Go amongst the men and pick up every bit of news
you can, and don't shrink--"

"Not me, sir."

"And what you can't get from the men, ask any officer you meet."

"I say, Mister Archie, sir!"

"Say you are asking it for me."

"That's better, sir. Then I'm off."

It was quite dark when Peter entered the room again, hurried to Archie's
bedside, and then stopped short.

"Fast asleep," he said to himself. "Ought I to wake him? Oughtn't I to
wake him? Chance it.--M