chieftain, and there was a high Mexican saddle on which he had ridden
through the land of the Aztecs. There was not a square foot of the
walls which was not adorned by knives, javelins, Malay kreeses, Chinese
opium pipes, and such other trifles as old travellers gather round them.
By the side of the fire rested the campaigner's straight regulation
sword in its dim sheath--all the dimmer because the companions
occasionally used it as a poker when that instrument happened to be
missing.

"It's not the value of thim," the major remarked, glancing round the
apartment, "but, bedad, there's not one of the lot that has not got a
story tacked on to it. Look at that bear's head now, that's grinning at
ye from over the door. That's a Thibet bear, not much bigger than a
Newfoundland dog, but as fierce as a grizzly. That's the very one that
clawed Charley Travers, of the 49th. Ged, he'd have been done for if I
hadn't got me Westley Richards to bear on him. 'Duck man I duck!'
I cried, for they were so mixed that I couldn't tell one from the other.
He put his head down, and I caught the brute right between the eyes. Ye
can see the track of the bullet on the bone."

The major paused, and the pair smoked meditatively, for Baumser had
returned from the City, and the twilight was falling and everything
conduced to tobacco and reverie.

"See that necklace of cowrie shells hanging beside it," continued the
veteran, waving his cigarette in that direction; "that came from the
neck of a Hottentot woman--a black Vanus, be Jove! We were trekking up
country before the second Kaffir war. Made an appintment--could not
go--orderly duty--so sent a trusty man to tell her. He was found next
day with twenty assegais in his body. She was a decoy duck, bedad, and
the whole thing a plant."

"Mein Gott!" Von Baumser ejaculated. "What a life you have led! I have
lived with you now many months and heard you tell many tales, but ever
there are fresh ones."

"Yes, a strange life," answered the major, stretching out his gaitered
legs and gazing up at the ceiling. I niver thought to be stranded in me
ould age. If I hadn't commuted I'd have had a fair pinsion, but I drew
me money in a lump sum, and went to Monte Carlo to break the bank.
Instead o' that the bank broke me, and yet I believe me system was
correct enough, and I must have won if I had had more capital."

"There is many says dat," grunted Von Baumser doubtfully.

"I believe it fo