Part 138 (2/2)
George shared his meal with d.i.c.k and went off to the mule-lines. His charge sat alone in a shed with his face in his hands. Before his tight-shut eyes danced the face of Maisie, laughing, with parted lips.
There was a great bustle and clamour about him. He grew afraid and almost called for George.
”I say, have you got your mules ready?” It was the voice of the subaltern over his shoulder.
”My man's looking after them. The--the fact is I've a touch of ophthalmia and can't see very well.
”By Jove! that's bad. You ought to lie up in hospital for a while. I've had a turn of it myself. It's as bad as being blind.”
”So I find it. When does this armoured train go?”
”At six o'clock. It takes an hour to cover the seven miles.”
”Are the Fuzzies on the rampage--eh?”
”About three nights a week. Fact is I'm in acting command of the night-train. It generally runs back empty to Tanai for the night.”
”Big camp at Tanai, I suppose?”
”Pretty big. It has to feed our desert-column somehow.”
”Is that far off?”
”Between thirty and forty miles--in an infernal thirsty country.”
”Is the country quiet between Tanai and our men?”
”More or less. I shouldn't care to cross it alone, or with a subaltern's command for the matter of that, but the scouts get through it in some extraordinary fas.h.i.+on.”
”They always did.”
”Have you been here before, then?”
”I was through most of the trouble when it first broke out.”
”In the service and cas.h.i.+ered,” was the subaltern's first thought, so he refrained from putting any questions.
”There's your man coming up with the mules. It seems rather queer----”
”That I should be mule-leading?” said d.i.c.k.
”I didn't mean to say so, but it is. Forgive me--it's beastly impertinence I know, but you speak like a man who has been at a public school. There's no mistaking the tone.”
”I am a public school man.”
”I thought so. I say, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you're a little down on your luck, aren't you? I saw you sitting with your head in your hands, and that's why I spoke.”
”Thanks. I am about as thoroughly and completely broke as a man need be.”
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