"And probably, as far as I know, the one point on which I agree with him, if he says the people are not mud."
"He does. He quotes a proverb, 'He who builds on the people, builds on mud,' and disagrees with it. Personally, I think the people, the mass, don't matter tuppence. Our officers have made the riff raff of all nations fight like tigers."
"That's not correct. A relative of mine was in Ashantee, and the coast niggers there ran like sheep. They had to give them up as fighting material."
"Perhaps so, but it's only the exception that proves the rule, and that was because we were hampered by sentiment. A coward rightly handled, that is to say, brutally handled, will achieve more than many really brave men."
"I very much doubt that too. I get good results by giving the stokers a drink occasionally."
"Also you curse them occasionally."
"Well, not exactly curse them; you can't listen to all their complaints; some of 'em would never do any work at all if you did."
"Quite so!" They passed on into the engine room. "I observe again, Carstairs, that you make them do their damnedest."
"Again, I explain that I like doing so."
"Your coal costs are always points below mine."