two spittoons to the right, various barrels,
cheeses, and bacon up the vista, and beyond, a large archway leading to
more space. A little group of men was assembled round one of the tables,
and a woman of perhaps five-and-thirty leant with her elbows on the
counter. All the men were armed with rifles, and the barrel of a gun
peeped above the counter. They were all listening idly, inattentively,
to a cheap, metallic-toned gramophone that occupied a table near at
hand. From its brazen throat came words that gave Bert a qualm of
homesickness, that brought back in his memory a sunlit beach, a group of
children, red-painted bicycles, Grubb, and an approaching balloon:--

"Ting-a-ling-a-ting-a-ling-a-ting-a ling-a-tang... What Price Hair-pins
Now?"

A heavy-necked man in a straw hat, who was chewing something, stopped
the machine with a touch, and they all turned their eyes on Bert. And
all their eyes were tired eyes.

"Can we give this gentleman anything to eat, mother, or can we not?"
said the proprietor.

"He kin have what he likes?" said the woman at the counter, without
moving, "right up from a cracker to a square meal." She struggled with a
yawn, after the manner of one who has been up all night.

"I want a meal," said Bert, "but I 'aven't very much money. I don' want
to give mor'n a shillin'."

"Mor'n a WHAT?" said the proprietor, sharply.

"Mor'n a shillin'," said Bert, with a sudden disagreeable realisation
coming into his mind.

"Yes," said the proprietor, startled for a moment from his courtly
bearing. "But what in hell is a shilling?"

"He means a quarter," said a wise-looking, lank young man in riding
gaiters.

Bert, trying to conceal his consternation, produced a coin. "That's a
shilling," he said.

"He calls A store A shop," said the proprietor, "and he wants A meal for
A shilling. May I ask you, sir, what part of America you hail from?"

Bert replaced the shilling in his pocket as he spoke, "Niagara," he
said.

"And when did you leave Niagara?"

"'Bout an hour ago."

"Well," said the proprietor, and turned with a puzzled smile to the
others. "Well!"

They asked various questions simultaneously.

Bert selected one or two for reply. "You see," he said, "I been with
the German air-fleet. I got caught up by them, sort of by accident, and
brought over here."

"From England?"

"Yes--from England. Way of Germany. I was in a great battle with them
Asiatics, and I got lef' on a little island