t a workman. He has nothing to
do, and idleness is the curse of the army. And in this climate--"

"Nothing to do!" snorted the civil administrator. "Keeping his men in
hand is what he has to do! They're running amuck all over Panama,
getting into fights with the Spiggoty police, bringing the uniform into
contempt. As for the climate, it's the same climate for all of us.
Look at Butler's marines and Barber's Zone police. The climate hasn't
hurt them. They're as smart men as ever wore khaki. It's not the
climate or lack of work that ails the Thirty-third, it's their
commanding officer. 'So the colonel, so the regiment.' That's as old
as the hills. Until Aintree takes a brace, his men won't. Some one
ought to talk to him. It's a shame to see a fine fellow like that
going to the dogs because no one has the courage to tell him the truth."

The chief smiled mockingly.

"Then why don't you?" he asked.

"I'm a civilian," protested the administrator. "If I told him he was
going to the dogs he'd tell me to go to the devil. No, one of you army
men must do it. He'll listen to you."

Young Captain Haldane of the cavalry was at the table; he was visiting
Panama on leave as a tourist. The chief turned to him.

"Haldane's the man," he said. "You're his friend and you're his junior
in rank, so what you say won't sound official. Tell him people are
talking; tell him it won't be long before they'll be talking in
Washington. Scare him!"

The captain of cavalry smiled dubiously.

"Aintree's a hard man to scare," he said. "But if it's as bad as you
all seem to think, I'll risk it. But, why is it," he complained, "that
whenever a man has to be told anything particularly unpleasant they
always pick on his best friend to tell him? It makes them both
miserable. Why not let his bitterest enemy try it? The enemy at least
would have a fine time."

"Because," said the chief, "Aintree hasn't an enemy in the
world--except Aintree."

The next morning, as he had promised, Haldane called upon his friend.
When he arrived at Las Palmas, although the morning was well advanced
toward noon, he found Aintree still under his mosquito bars and awake
only to command a drink. The situation furnished Haldane with his
text. He expressed his opinion of any individual, friend or no friend,
officer or civilian, who on the Zone, where all men begin work at
sunrise, could be found at noon still in his pajamas and preparing to
face the