a Map'?"

"Turning it to the east," said Bones promptly. "Next, sir."

"What is meant by 'Orienting a Map'?" asked Hamilton patiently.

"I've told you once," said Bones defiantly.

"Orienting a Map," said Hamilton, "as I have explained to you a thousand
times, means setting your map or plane-table so that the north line lies
north."

"In that case, sir," said Bones firmly, "the east line would be east,
and I claim to have answered the question to your entire satisfaction."

"Continue to claim," snarled Hamilton. "I shall mark you zero for that
answer."

"Make it one," pleaded Bones. "Be a sport, dear old Ham--I've found a
new fishin' pool."

Hamilton hesitated.

"There never are any fish in the pools you find," he said dubiously.
"Anyway, I'll reserve my decision until I've made a cast or two."

They adjourned for tiffin soon after.

"How did you do, Bones?" asked Patricia Hamilton.

"Fine," said Bones enthusiastically; "I simply bowled over every
question that your dear old brother asked. In fact, Ham admitted that I
knew much more about some things than he did."

"What I said," corrected Hamilton, "was that your information on certain
subjects was so novel that I doubted whether even the staff college
shared it."

"It's the same thing," said Bones.

"You should try him on military history," suggested Sanders dryly. "I've
just been hearing from Bosambo----"

Bones coughed and blushed.

"The fact is, sir an' Excellency," he confessed, "I was practisin' on
Bosambo. You mightn't be aware of the fact, but I like to hear myself
speak----"

"No!" gasped Hamilton in amazement, "you're wronging yourself, Bones!"

"What I mean, sir," Bones went on with dignity, "is that if I lecture
somebody on a subject I remember what I've said."

"Always providing that you understand what you're saying," suggested
Hamilton.

"Anyway," said Sanders, with his quiet smile, "Bones has filled Bosambo
with a passionate desire to emulate Napoleon, and Bosambo has been
making tentative inquiries as to whether he can raise an Old Guard or
enlist a mercenary army."

"I flatter myself----" began Bones.

"Why not?" said Hamilton, rising. "It's the only chance you'll have of
hearing something complimentary about yourself."

"_I_ believe in you, Bones," said a smiling Patricia. "I think you're
really wonderful, and that Ham is a brute."

"I'll never, never contradict you, dear Miss Patricia," said Bones; "an'
after the j