e corner of the drill-ground, where it seemed the non-commissioned
officers took their pleasure of an evening. Pleasure, except as laid
down in regulations, is not permitted in German colonies to any except
white folk. No less than eight German sergeants and a sergeant-major,
all the worse for liquor, turned out as if to a fire and came down
street at a double.

They had kibokos in their hands. The first we heard of their approach
was the crack-crack-crack of the black whips falling on naked or
thin-cotton-clad backs and shoulders. There was no yelling (it was not
allowed after dark on German soil, at least by natives) but a sudden
pattering in the dust as a thousand feet hurried away. Then, in the
glow of our lamplight, came the sergeant-major standing spraddle-legged
in front of us.

He was a man of medium height, in clean white uniform. The first thing
I noticed about him was the high cheek-bones and murderous blue eyes,
like a pig's. His general build was heavy. The fair mustache made no
attempt to conceal fat lips that curled cruelly. His general air was
that most offensive one to decent folk, of the bully who would
ingratiate by seeming a good fellow.

"'nabnd, meine Herren!" he said aggressively, with a smile more than
half made up of contempt for courtesy. "Ich heiess Schubert-Feldwebel
Hans Schubert."

"Wass wollen Sie?" Will asked. He was the only one of us who knew
German well.

But Schubert, it seemed, knew English and was glad to show it off.

"You make fine music! Ach! Up at the D.O.A.G. very near here we
Unteroffitzieren spend the evening, all very fond of singing, yet
without music at all. Will you not come and play with us?"

"I only know French and English tunes!" lied Fred.

"Ach! I do not believe it! Kommen Sie! There is beer at the
D.O.A.G.--champagne--brandy--whisky--rum--?"

"I'm going, then, for one!" announced Brown, getting up immediately.

"Cigars--cigarettes--tobacco," the sergeant-major continued. "There is
no closing time." He saw that the line of argument was not tempting,
and changed his tactics. "Listen! You gentlemen have not too many
friends in Muanza! I speak in friendship. I invite you on behalf of
myself and other Unteroffitzieren to spend gemuthlich evening with us.
That can do you no harm! In the course of friendly conversation much
can be learned that official lips would not tell!

"Kommen Sie nun!"

"Let's go!" I said. "My leg hurts like hel