"I can," replied Mr. Johnson with relish, "and I will. They got in all right, but you didn't see them, because they was disguised."
Cosh and Tosh snorted disdainfully, and Private Nigg, who was present with his friend Buncle, inquired—
"What way was they disguised?"
Like lightning came the answer—
"As a joke! Oh, you Jocks."
Cosh and Tosh (who had already been warned by the Police sergeant) merely glared and gurgled impotently. Private Nigg, who, as already mentioned, was slightly wanting in quickness of perception, was led away by the faithful Buncle, to have the outrage explained to him at leisure. It was Private Bogle who intervened, and brought the intellectual Goliath crashing to the ground.
"Man, Johnson," he remarked, and shook his head mournfully, "youse ought to be varra careful aboot sayin' things like that to the likes of us. 'Deed aye!"
"What for, ole son?" inquired the jester indulgently.
"Naithing," replied Bogle with artistic reticence.
"Come along—aht with it!" insisted Johnson. "Cough it up, duckie!"