"I immediately turned in his direction. He was also staring at that fragment of shell.
"I answered: 'Did you ever try to teach a Chinaman how to speak French?'
"He got it right away. A dejected look spread over his countenance, and he let out a long-drawn sigh.
"A Tommy sitting on my right butted in with: 'Did you sye byse-ball, Yank? Why, I saw a gyme in London. It's absurdly easy to plye, but I cawn't sye I fawncy h'it.'
"With a look of disgust Alex turned to me and said, 'I guess you're right, Yank, it would be easier to teach the Chinaman French!'
"That night we were relieved and went behind the lines.
"The next afternoon, after parade" (drill), "we were sitting in an orchard drinking tea. About a month before, Alex and I had taught the Tommies how to pitch horseshoes. There was great rivalry among the different squads, each squad having a team.
"Just then Corporal Watkins came over to us and asked, 'Where are the 'orse-shoes, I cawn't find 'em?'