nest mistake. I always wait to
see if people are proposing to use their sugar before I appropriate
it."

"But if you only take from the willing," I inquired, "why do you not
ask their permission?"

"I suppose I have given you the right to ask me that question," he
replied with much dignity, "but it is painful to me to have to answer
it. I have not yet sunk so low that I have to beg people for their
cast-off sugar. I may come to it in the end, perhaps. At present the
'earnest gaze' trick is generally sufficient, or, where it fails, a
kick on the shin. But I hate cruelty."

"Physical cruelty," I suggested.

"No, any kind of cruelty. I have said that in your case I made a
mistake. If I could repair it I would."

"Well," I said, "here's something you can do towards it, although it's
little enough." And I handed him the ticket the waitress had written
out for me. "And now I'll go and get a cup of tea somewhere."

"One moment," he said, as I rose to go. "We may meet again."

"Never!" I said firmly.

"Ah, but we may, I have a number of disguises. Let me suggest
something that will make another mistake of this kind impossible."

"I am not going to give up my plan," I said.

"No, don't," he answered; "but _why not drink the sugared half
first?_"

* * * * *

Extract from an official letter received "Somewhere in France":--

"It must be clearly understood that the numbers shown under the
heading, 'Awaiting Leave' will be the number of all ranks who have
not had leave to the United Kingdom since last arrival in this
country, whether such arrival was their last return from Leave,
or their last arrival in France."

And the Authorities are still wondering why the "Awaiting Leave" list
tallied so exactly with the daily strength.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A GREAT INCENTIVE. MEHMED (_reading despatch from the
All-Highest_). "'DEFEND JERUSALEM AT ALL COSTS FOR MY SAKE. I WAS ONCE
THERE MYSELF.'"]

* * * * *

THE MUD LARKS.

The ammunition columns on either flank provide us with plenty of
amusement. They seem to live by stealing each other's mules. My
line-guards tell me that stealthy figures leading shadowy donkeys are
crossing to and fro all night long through my lines. The respective
C.O.'s, an Australian and an Irishman, drop in on us from time to time
and warn us against each other. I remain stric