SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1900.
FABLES FOR THE STAFF.[2]
King Log and King Stork.
BY RUDYARD KIPLING.
I.
Certain Boers, having blown up a Bridge, departed in the Face of the British Army, which, arriving at that dynamited Place, made Outcry to the Gods, saying, "Oh, Jupiter, these Ruffians have blocked the Traffic, and we are vastly incommoded. Is there Anything worse than the Boer?"
This being reported to the Railway Authorities, they caused a Railway Staff Officer to be sent to that Bridge with Instructions to facilitate Matters by all means in his Power.
Later on They picked up What was left of the British Army in those parts—one dusty Shovelful, and its Lamentations were louder than before.
"Ungrateful Wretches," said the Military Authorities; "what would you now have?"
And the Remnant of the British with one Accord answered, "Give us back the Boer!"