Part 28 (2/2)

”I don't think you will,” muttered Sloman, as Hanc.o.c.k and two or three others turned towards the new-comer, with the design of carrying out the major's suggestion.

Silently advancing across the sanded floor, the mustanger had taken his stand at an unoccupied s.p.a.ce in front of the counter.

”A gla.s.s of whisky and water, if you please?” was the modest request with which to saluted the landlord.

”Visky und vachter!” echoed the latter, without any show of eagerness to wait upon his new guest. ”Ya, woe, visky und vachter! It ish two picayunsh the gla.s.s.”

”I was not inquiring the price,” replied the mustanger, ”I asked to be served with a gla.s.s of whisky and water. Have you got any?”

”Yesh--yesh,” responded the German, rendered obsequious by the sharp rejoinder. ”Plenty--plenty of visky und vachter. Here it ish.”

While his simple potation was being served out to him, Maurice received nods of recognition from the officers, returning them with a free, but modest air. Most of them knew him personally, on account of his business relations with the Fort.

They were on the eve of interrogating him--as the major had suggested-- when the entrance of still another individual caused them to suspend their design.

The new-comer was Ca.s.sius Calhoun. In his presence it would scarce have been delicacy to investigate the subject any further.

Advancing with his customary swagger towards the mixed group of military men and civilians, Calhoun saluted them as one who had spent the day in their company, and had been absent only for a short interval. If not absolutely intoxicated, it could be seen that the ex-officer of volunteers was under the influence of drink. The unsteady sparkle of his eyes, the unnatural pallor upon his forehead--still further clouded by two or three tossed tresses that fell over it--with the somewhat grotesque set of his forage cap--told that he had been taking one beyond the limits of wisdom.

”Come, gentlemen!” cried he, addressing himself to the major's party, at the same time stepping up to the counter; ”let's. .h.i.t the waggon a crack, or old Dunder-und-blitzen behind the bar will say we're wasting his lights. Drinks all round. What say you?”

”Agreed--agreed!” replied several voices.

”You, major?”

”With pleasure, Captain Calhoun.”

According to universal custom, the intended imbibers fell into line along the counter, each calling out the name of the drink most to his liking at the moment.

Of these were ordered almost as many kinds as there were individuals in the party; Calhoun himself shouting out--”Brown sherry for me;” and immediately adding--”with a dash of bitters.”

”Prandy und pitters, you calls for, Mishter Calhoun?” said the landlord, as he leant obsequiously across the counter towards the reputed partner of an extensive estate.

”Certainly, you stupid Dutchman! I said brown sherry, didn't I?”

”All rights, mein herr; all rights! Prandy und pitters--prandy und pitters,” repeated the German Boniface, as he hastened to place the decanter before his ill-mannered guest.

With the large accession of the major's party, to several others already in the act of imbibing, the whole front of the long counter became occupied--with scarce an inch to spare.

Apparently by accident--though it may have been design on the part of Calhoun--he was the outermost man on the extreme right of those who had responded to his invitation.

This brought him in juxtaposition with Maurice Gerald, who alone--as regarded boon companions.h.i.+p--was quietly drinking his whisky and water, and smoking a cigar he had just lighted.

The two were back to back--neither having taken any notice of the other.

”A toast!” cried Calhoun, taking his gla.s.s from the counter.

”Let us have it!” responded several voices.

<script>