Some of the officers now arrived, including the Adjutant, Forshaw. The Marquis became more uproarious than ever.
Forshaw was well able to deal with any emergency. He made enquiries and calculations.
"Well, get the fire-engine," he ordered at last. "We'll knock him out with the hose."
But when the engine was in position and everything ready, Forshaw, perceiving that the fire had decidedly slackened in the last two or three minutes, peeped into the room from under cover.
"Why, he's asleep!" he whispered, suppressing a laugh.
It was quite true. Peering over the Adjutant's shoulder, the attackers beheld the Marquis, exhausted, his 'rippin' rag' over, slumbering like a child in a litter of empty shells.
Very quietly they took the hero into custody. He did not once open his eyes.
VI
"Sergeant-Major, before we proceed further, I'll see the accused alone."
The Marquis, bareheaded and strictly at attention, between the armed escort, was 'on the carpet' before the C.O. for the offenses he had committed in the barrack-room.