Part 127 (2/2)

”Oh, those camels!” groaned Ca.s.savetti. ”I shall learn to ride him again, and now I am so much all soft! Listen, you good fellows. I know your military arrangement very well. There will go the Royal Argals.h.i.+re Sutherlanders. So it was read to me upon best authority.”

A roar of laughter interrupted him.

”Sit down,” said the Nilghai. ”The lists aren't even made out in the War Office.”

”Will there be any force at Suakin?” said a voice.

Then the outcries redoubled, and grew mixed, thus: ”How many Egyptian troops will they use?--G.o.d help the Fellaheen!--There's a railway in Plumstead marshes doing duty as a fives-court.--We shall have the Suakin-Berber line built at last.--Canadian voyageurs are too careful.

Give me a half-drunk Krooman in a whale-boat.--Who commands the Desert column?--No, they never blew up the big rock in the Ghineh bend. We shall have to be hauled up, as usual.--Somebody tell me if there's an Indian contingent, or I'll break everybody's head.--Don't tear the map in two.--It's a war of occupation, I tell you, to connect with the African companies in the South.--There's Guinea-worm in most of the wells on that route.” Then the Nilghai, despairing of peace, bellowed like a fog-horn and beat upon the table with both hands.

”But what becomes of Torpenhow?” said d.i.c.k, in the silence that followed.

”Torp's in abeyance just now. He's off love-making somewhere, I suppose,” said the Nilghai.

”He said he was going to stay at home,” said the Keneu.

”Is he?” said d.i.c.k, with an oath. ”He won't. I'm not much good now, but if you and the Nilghai hold him down I'll engage to trample on him till he sees reason. He'll stay behind, indeed! He's the best of you all.

There'll be some tough work by Omdurman. We shall come there to stay, this time.

”But I forgot. I wish I were going with you.”

”So do we all, d.i.c.kie,” said the Keneu.

”And I most of all,” said the new artist of the Central Southern Syndicate.

”Could you tell me----”

”I'll give you one piece of advice,” d.i.c.k answered, moving towards the door. ”If you happen to be cut over the head in a scrimmage, don't guard. Tell the man to go on cutting. You'll find it cheapest in the end. Thanks for letting me look in.”

”There's grit in d.i.c.k,” said the Nilghai, an hour later, when the room was emptied of all save the Keneu.

”It was the sacred call of the war-trumpet. Did you notice how he answered to it? Poor fellow! Let's look at him,” said the Keneu.

The excitement of the talk had died away. d.i.c.k was sitting by the studio table, with his head on his arms, when the men came in. He did not change his position.

”It hurts,” he moaned. ”G.o.d forgive me, but it hurts cruelly; and yet, y'know, the world has a knack of spinning round all by itself. Shall I see Torp before he goes?”

”Oh, yes. You'll see him,” said the Nilghai.

CHAPTER XIII

The sun went down an hour ago, I wonder if I face towards home; If I lost my way in the light of day How shall I find it now night is come?

--Old Song

”Maisie, come to bed.”

<script>