"Yes, 'tis a bit risky, sir, for the niggers are as thick as thieves all
down that way; but you and me always did like a lark with a bit of spice
in it--when we was boys; and that ain't much more than a month or two
ago, sir. I should just like to get them cartridges; shouldn't you?"

"Yes, Pete, dearly; and it might be the saving of a good many lives."

"To be sure it would, sir."

"But it would be like acting in defiance of orders if we were to attempt
such a thing."

"Well, if you look at it like that, sir, I suppose it would. And the
Major would never forgive us--if we didn't get them."

"No," said Archie, "But if we _did_."

"Yes, Pete, if we did he'd shut his eyes to our breach of orders."

"Well, sir, we always did like a bit of spice, as I said just now--just
a bit of risk over a lark; and this is only like a serious lark to do a
lot of good as well as giving us a bit of fun. I'm game, sir, if you
are."

Archie was silent for a few moments, and then he said slowly:

"It's for the benefit of all, Pete. With a couple of hundred
cartridges, even if half of them are small shot--"

"We could kick up such a row, sir, as would make the niggers think we
had no end of supplies. Let's get them, sir."

"How, Pete?"

"Oh, that means you are on, sir. How? Well, that wants a
considering-cap and a little bit of thinkum-thinkum. How? Don't quite
see it yet, sir; but if you sets your mind on a thing, and comes to me--
it always did end in our seeing how to do it, and that's how it's going
to be now." Peter began to whistle softly and then sing in a whisper
about--

"Some talks of Alex-ander,
And some of Hercules,
Of Hector and Lysander,
And such brave chaps as these.

"Here, I have got it, sir."

"Yes--how?" cried Archie.

"A boat, sir."

"Bother! I have been thinking of boats and sampans and nagas and
gunboats, and all the rest of them. How are we to do it with a boat?"

"Don't be waxy with me, Mister Archie, sir. You are in such a hurry
with a chap. I said boat."

"I know you did," said Archie gruffly.

"And then you chopped me off short, sir, when I was going to say--and
chance it."

"That's what you are always saying."

"That's true, sir; but you can't say but what it sometimes turns up
trumps."

"Well, go on. What boat?"

"Any boat, sir. Anybody's boat. Why not smuggle the one we had when we
went fishing?"

"We can't do that again. There's a fresh rumour that R