“Is that so? Glad to know you. You’re a lieutenant, I reckon, by the uniform.”
“I am, Mr.—”
“Nuglich Polk is my handle. Generally called Nuggy by my friends. And you are?—”
“My name is Gilbert.”
“Proud to know you!” The young man tried to look sober for a second, then burst out into a fit of unreasonable laughter. “Say, but I cut a figure, didn’t I, when I went into the mud?”
“I didn’t see very clearly. I was watching your team.”
“Oh, don’t smooth it over, lieutenant. It’s all right! So we are both from Virginia? Good enough! Ever been to Richmond?”
“Yes, years ago.”
“I and my father run the Richmond Importing Company there. Perhaps you’ve heard of the concern. We ship goods all over the world,—China, Japan, South Africa, everywhere. Got a vessel here now, bound for China, the Columbia. Had to look after her, and that’s what brought me to the Philippines.”
“Then you are going back to the States soon?” went on Gilbert. “You’re lucky. Lots of the boys would like to go, too.”