f them, the way he is when he goes shooting at home.
Perhaps he'll get up some sport here in a big hen-coop. I'll suggest
it to Balderdash."

Sam refused to think ill of the great war-lord, and embraced every
opportunity to see him. He had been formally presented to him at a
reception of officers, but there was a crowd present, and Sam did not
expect him to recognize him again. On one occasion Sam happened to be
standing in the street when the Emperor, accompanied by some of his
officers, came past on foot. Sam stood on one side and saluted. To his
surprise the Emperor stopped and beckoned to him. Sam came forward,
bowing, blushing, and stammering.

"I am glad to see an officer of your country here, General," said His
Majesty. "May I ask your name? Ah, Jinks! I have heard your name
before. What do you think of expansion, General?"

"I beg Your Majesty's pardon," said Sam, "but I do not think. I obey
orders."

The Emperor gave an exclamation of surprise and delight.

"Hear that, gentlemen," said he in his own language, turning to his
officers. "He does not think; he obeys orders! There is a model for
you. There is a motto for you to learn. God has given you an Emperor to
think for you. Our friend here, with only a President to fall back on,
has perceived the truth that a soldier must not think. He thinks at his
peril. General," he added in English, "you have given my army a lesson
to-day which they will never forget. It will give me pleasure to
decorate you with the Green Cockatoo, third class."

Sam began to stammer something.

"Oh, yes, I remember. Your Government does not allow you to receive it.
If that restriction is ever removed, let me be informed," and the
Emperor passed on, while Sam determined to write to his uncle and have
this miserable civilian law changed. It so happened that there was a
great dearth of news at this time, and Cleary made the most of this
episode. It did almost as much to make General Jinks famous as anything
that he had done before, and he was widely advertised at home as the
officer who had astounded the Emperor by his wisdom and given a lesson
to the finest army in the world.

[Illustration: THE PERFECT SOLDIER
"THE EMPEROR GAVE AN EXCLAMATION OF SURPRISE AND DELIGHT"]

"Sam, your luck never gives out," said Cleary. "They'll make you a
major-general, I expect, now."

"I should rather like to have the thanks of Congress," answered Sam, as