, my dear fellow, though I had begun to fear that
you were not going to join us. Here are a lot of old friends waiting
to greet and congratulate you."

"Are they?" asked the stranger, dubiously.

"By Jove!" laughed Gladwyn, "I don't believe one of them recognizes
you. Gentlemen, permit me the honor of introducing one of the heroes
of this present war, Paymaster Leonidas Bullen."

Whereupon there arose such a shout from that mess-room as startled the
distant sentries on the outer walls. "Bullen, old man, forgive me."
"It can't be!" "Incredible!" "Bullen, the Beau Brummel of the
service, in leather!" "Why, Diogenes, what are you doing here?" "Is
it a masquerade?" "Is it a joke?" "What means this unique headgear?"
"And Diogenes, I say, where is the tub?"

"Gentlemen," replied the paymaster, "it is no joke, but a stern
reality. As my only choice of a dinner dress lay between a suit of
paint and this costume, out of consideration for your prejudices I
chose this. My head-gear may be unique, but it is at least warm and it
is also the only covering I can at present bestow upon my baldness. It
is true I might have worn feathers, but unfortunately feathers suggest
to me only very recent and unpleasant associations. As for my tub, I
shall consider it a personal favor, gentlemen, if you will never again
mention that unfortunate article in my presence."

"He came very near being boiled alive in it," whispered Gladwyn to
Captain Dalzell.

"What?"

"Yes, like a prawn or a crayfish."

"By Jove! How?"

Then Gladwyn related the history of the paymaster's recent experiences
and bravery so effectively that the poor little man became rosy with
confusion, and when at the conclusion of the narrative his health was
pledged with a round of cheers, he could only stammer in reply:--

"I thank you, gentlemen, from the bottom of my heart. I also thank the
major for his kindly effort to convert me into a hero. I fear, though,
that he is only trying to make amends for threatening to shoot me when
I first made application for his hospitality."

"Shoot you, old man! You don't mean it. What for? Had you challenged
him? Tell us about it."

"It is only too true," confessed Major Gladwyn, "and but for the timely
interference of Madam Rothsay I fear I should have succeeded to my
everlasting sorrow."

When this had been explained, and Madam Rothsay's health had been
pledged, Captain Dalzell inquired what had become of Mi