men and merrymakers, startled out of the
neighbouring tents by the explosion, as bees from their hives, were
running to and fro with lanterns and naphtha flares, seeking for the
victims. A ring of the searchers came to a halt around the Major and
Ben Jope, and Ben, catching sight of his companion's face, let out
another yell.

"It's all right." The Major clutched him by the arm and turned.
"It's all right, my good people. He can walk, you see. I'll take
him along to the hospital."

He managed to reassure them, and they passed on. He slipped an arm
under Ben's and led him away into the darkness.

"But I seen you blowed into air, ten years ago, _with_ these very
eyes," persisted Ben.

"And with these very eyes I saw you blown into air ten minutes ago;
and yet we're both alive," the Major assured him.

"An' I come here o' purpose to look up your ha'nts, havin' been
always pretty curious about that tale o' your'n, but kep' moderate
busy all these years."

"And Bill Adams?"

"Wot?" Mr. Jope halted. "Haven't you 'eard? Bill's dead.
Drink done it--comin' upon it too 'asty. Simmons's boarding-house,
Plymouth, that's where it was. _Quite_ a decent house, an' the
proprietor behaved very well about it, I will say. But where on
earth have you been hidin' all these years, that you never heard
about Bill?"

"In a French war prison, Ben. And, Ben, you found me a berth once,
you remember. I wonder if you could get me into another?"

"O' course I can," Mr. Jope answered cheerily. "You come along o' me
to Plymouth an' I'll put you into the very job. A cook's galley, it
is, and so narra' that with a wooden leg in dirty weather you can
prop yourself tight when she rolls, an' stir the soup with it
between-times!"

They entered the hospital, and the Major packed his knapsack with
hasty, eager hands.

"What's this mess on the floor?" asked Ben Jope, pointing to the
fragments of plaster of Paris.

"That?" The Major looked up from his packing. "That's a sort of
image I broke. Come along; we haven't time to pick up the pieces."

They crossed the harbour in Cai Tamblyn's boat, and moored her safely
at the ferry slip. On the knap of the hill the Major turned for a
last look.

From the Town Quay, far below and across the water, the lights of the
merry-go-round winked at him gaily, knowingly.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAYOR OF TROY***

******* This file should be named 19751.txt or 1