"I'm awf'ly sorry, Corporal, really," apologized Dam. "I didn't
think...."

"No, me lad," returned the unmollified superior, as he stooped to the
other boot, "if you was to think more an' booze less you'd do
better.... 'Ow an' where you gets 'old of it, beats me. I've seed you
in delirium trimmings but I ain't never seed you drinkin' nor yet
smelt it on yer. You're a cunnin' 'ound in yer way. One o' them
beastly secret-drinkin' swine wots never suspected till they falls
down 'owlin' blue 'orrors an' seem' pink toadses. Leastways it's
snakes _you_ sees. See 'em oncte too orfen, you will.... See 'em on
p'rade one day in front o' the Colonel. Fall orf yer long-face an get
trampled--an' serve yer glad.... An' now shut yer silly 'ed an' don't
chew the mop so much. Let me get some sleep. _I_ 'as respontsibillaties
_I_ do...."

A crossing outside a Club! More likely a padded cell in a troopship
and hospital until an asylum claimed him.

In the finals, "Sword versus Sword Dismounted," Dam had a foeman
worthy of his steel.

A glorious chilly morning, sunrise on a wide high open _maidan_, rows
of tents for the spectators at the great evening final, and crowds of
officers and men in uniform or gymnasium kit. On a group of chairs sat
the Divisional General, his Colonel on the Staff, and Aide-de-Camp;
the Brigadier-General, his Brigade-Major, and a few ladies, wives of
regimental colonels, officers, and leading Civilians.

Semi-finals of Tent-pegging, Sword v. Sword Mounted, Bayonet-fighting,
Tug-of-War, Fencing, and other officers' and men's events had been, or
were being, contested.

The finals of the British Troops' Sword _v._ Sword Dismounted, was
being reserved for the last, as of supreme interest to the experts
present, but not sufficiently spectacular to be kept for the evening
final "show," when the whole of Society would assemble to be thrilled
by the final Jumping, Driving, Tent-pegging, Sword _v._ Sword Mounted,
Bayonet-fighting, Sword _v._ Lance, Tug-of-War, and other events for
British and Indian officers and men of all arms.

It was rumoured that there was a Sergeant of Hussars who would give
Trooper Matthewson a warm time with the sabre. As the crowd of
competitors and spectators gathered round the sabres-ring, and chairs
were carried up for the Generals, ladies, and staff, to witness the
last and most exciting contest of the morning's meeting, a
Corporal-official of the Assault-at-Arms Executive Committee