'“I've niver had charge of men like this before,” sez he, playin' wid the pens on the table; “an' I see by the Rig'lations—”
'“Shut your oi to the Rig'lations, Sorr,” I sez, “till the throoper's into blue wather. By the Rig'lations you've got to tuck thim up for the night, or they'll be runnin' foul av my coolies an' makin' a shiverarium half through the country. Can you trust your non-coms, Sorr?”
'“Yes,” sez he.
'“Good,” sez I; “there'll be throuble before the night. Are you marchin', Sorr?”
'“To the next station,” sez he.
'“Better still,” sez I; “there'll be big throuble.”
'“Can't be too hard on a Home draf',” sez he; “the great thing is to get thim in-ship.”
'“Faith you've larnt the half av your lesson, Sorr,” sez I, “but av you shtick to the Rig'lations you'll niver get thim in-ship at all, at all. Or there won't be a rag av kit betune thim whin you do.”
''Twas a dear little orf'cer bhoy, an' by way av kapin' his heart up, I tould him fwhat I saw wanst in a draf' in Egypt.'
'What was that, Mulvaney?' said I.