band, it does!"

Sergeant Briggs, without giving Kettle time to explain further, marched
him off, and Mrs. McGillicuddy went to report to Mrs. Fortescue, while
Sergeant McGillicuddy appeared to report to Colonel Fortescue.

"I believe, sir," said the Sergeant confidentially, "as it's a crooked
business about the naygur's wantin' to enlist. Gully and Sergeant
Halligan was jokin', but it's mighty risky jokin' with the regulations."

So thought Sergeant Halligan and Sergeant Gully, when confronted with
the Colonel. As they were two of the best sergeants in the regiment,
the Colonel satisfied himself with a stern reprimand, which was not
entered against them. But having sentenced Kettle to three days in the
guardhouse for insolence to Sergeant Briggs, Colonel Fortescue thought
it well to let the sentence stand.

Colonel Fortescue, in spite of being the commanding officer at one of
the finest cavalry posts in the world, and whose word was law, could
yet be made to feel domestic displeasure. The family at once divided
itself into two camps, one on the Colonel's side and one on Kettle's.
Anita, of course, sided with her father, and declared he had done
perfectly right about Kettle, as he did about everything. Sergeant
McGillicuddy was also a faithful adherent of the Colonel's in the
wordless warfare that prevailed in the commanding officer's house for
the three days in which Kettle enjoyed the hospitality of the
guardhouse.

"Served the naygur right for sassing a sergeant," was Sergeant
McGillicuddy's view. On the other side was arrayed, of course, Mrs.
Fortescue, who outwardly observed an armed neutrality, but who called
the Colonel "John" during the entire three days of Kettle's
imprisonment. Colonel Fortescue retaliated by calling Mrs. Fortescue
"Elizabeth."

There were frequent references, in the Colonel's hearing, to "Poor
Kettle," and the After-Clap was not rebuked in his insistent demand for
"my Kettle, I want my Kettle! Where is my Kettle?"

At intervals, from the time he waked in the morning until Mrs.
McGillicuddy put him in his crib at night, the After-Clap was screaming
for Kettle, and as the baby was extremely robust, his shrieks and wails
for Kettle were clearly audible to the Colonel, sitting grimly in his
private office, or at luncheon, or having his tea in the drawing-room.
Colonel Fortescue, however, spent most of his time during those three
days at the headquarters building or the officers' c