“How does he seem, sergeant?”

“Fast asleep, sir.”

“Hadn’t you better let one of the men take your place?”

“Oh no, sir; I’m all right, and so’s he.”

“Can either of you hear anything?”

“No, sir; only the ponies cropping the bush.” Then a faint, “We ought to be getting near home, sergeant.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Can we do anything more?”

“No, sir; only wish for a row of gas-lamps along a straight road, and it ain’t any good to wish for that.”

“I can see nothing, sergeant, and the sky seems blacker than the earth.”