manoeuvres, but the proper thing; and after I put the war over, I'll go
and see Ireland. It's strange, although I'm Irish, I've never put a
toe in the country, and never been nearer it than a black native. My
father's people were reared in the Galtees; it's my Irish blood that's
uppermost now and driving me home. I've often heard the boys talkin'
of the grand purple mountains, the wonderful greenery everywhere, and
the lovely soft, moist air."

"Well, Michael, I hope you may see it all some day. What put it into
your head to throw off the yellow robe and take this sudden start?"

"It was the barrack talk, sir; I heard them chaps cursin' and groanin'
that they were stuck fast in Rangoon and had no chance of gettin' a
look in, and says I to myself, what's to hinder _you_ from goin'?"

"But how about the passage money?" inquired Shafto. "I thought you
were vowed to poverty and had nothing in your wooden bowl?"

"I had the ruby that you gave back to me. I believe it was a rare fine
stone. I had it in me mind to offer it to the Pagoda; it was well I
waited, as things turned out; a friend sold it for me in the bazaar--he
got four hundred pounds of English money. He says it was worth some
thousands; it was bought for a Pagoda, annyhow, and I have a nice big
sum lodged in a London bank, and when the war is over, please God, it
will help to settle me in a small place in Ireland. I took me passage
and bought some kit, and I have a few pounds in hand--so that I won't
be stranded. At first I felt the clothes terrible awkward, especially
the trousers, after living in a petticoat so long; and I did not know
what to be doin' with a knife and fork--and leadin' such a quiet,
cramped sort of life I lost the use of meself; but I tramped up and
down the decks for a couple of hours of a morning, and a nice young
fellow in the pantry has lent me a pair of dumb-bells. By the time I
get to England I'll be well set up with a black moustache--and mabbe,
ye'll hardly know me!"

"How did you get rid of the yellow robe?"

"Oh, easy enough, and without any ceremony of disgrace whatever.
Shure, half the Burmans you meet have worn it for, p'r'aps, a year or
two--but it's not everyone who has the vocation."

"I can't understand your ever taking to it."

"Can ye not, sir?" rejoined the _ex-pongye_, laying a muscular hand on
the bulwark and fixing a far away, abstracted gaze upon the lazy green
sea. "I may as well tell ye that the f