Though a little diffident of his powers of lowing, Walls determined to do his best, and fell sound asleep.
Now, if you or I had been in his position, an officer would certainly have discovered us in no time, and dire punishment would have followed. But Walls slumbered on undisturbed, until a terrific roar in his ear caused him to wake with a start. What had happened? He seized his rifle and peered into the darkness. Then, to his amazement, he saw the boulder before him rise to its feet and shamble off into the night. It was an ox, and it had lowed!
You might think his luck finished there. But no. The officer and his men came stealthily up, and Walls unblushingly declared that he had heard the foe approaching. It may sound incredible, but it is a fact that a few minutes later the enemy did actually appear, and were, of course, driven back after the customary decimation.
And Walls unhesitatingly accepted the congratulations of his superior on his vigilance, and did not even blench when assured that his was the finest imitation ever heard of the lowing of an ox.
Yours ever,
One of the Punch Brigade.
Officer. "Didn't I tell yer 'e was no good? Look at 'im—playin' football when us fellers is drillin'!"
"The German resistance is formidable but the allies' artillery has forced the enemy to retire from some trenches abandinging prisoners, dead, and wounded."—Buenos Aires Standard.