“Lovely!” said the subaltern enthusiastically. “I don’t know when I have seen them so bright. You can trace out the whole course of the river as far as we can see; and there above, the sky looks like purple velvet sewn all over with stars, just as if they were the reflections of the fire-flies.”

“Bosh!” said Captain Down, striking a match to light a cigar.

“Why bosh?”

“Fancy—poetry. I think I shall have a nap. It’s too hot to smoke.”

“Don’t.”

“What! not smoke?”

“No; don’t go to sleep. You will get fever.”

“Who says so?”

“The Doctor.”

“Oh, bother!”