"Hullo!" I called. "What luck?"
"They snapped me up!" cried Red, and at that the corporal of the guard, who was playing cards at the table, looked up laughing.
"'Ere!" Red seized the corporal by the collar, "come and 'ave yer 'ead punched!"
"Two, four, six," said the corporal over his cards, "and a pair, eight."
"Carrots!" I shouted. Red forgot his corporal and hastened across to destroy me. "Dates, I mean," said I gently, holding out the bag. "Sit here on my bed; Rich Mixed is only snarling for effect. Won't bite. Too full to hold another mouthful. Do you know, Red, that the gentleman over there is your superior officer?"
"Swine!"
"How true. Yet for touching even a chaffy corporal the punishment is death."
"'E insulted me!"
"Death. Court-martialed and shot at sunrise, then buried in the dogs' churchyard with a dreadful epitaph. After that you'd be punished for kicking that clerk into hospital."
"'E can't 'and me over to the police," Red lowered at the corporal, "'cause we're shipmates now. I belong."