nd
substantial-featured daughter of Erin entered, her sleeves rolled above
her elbows, and her vigorous hands showing the soft, moist, and wrinkled
appearance that indicates recent and long-continued contact with the
contents of the wash-tub. Dropping a courtesy, she said,

"Can the commanding officer spare me a few minutes of his toime?"

"With pleasure. Sergeant Major, place a chair for Mrs. Maloney," said
Captain Bartlett.

"Oi want to spake a worrud about me b'y Teddy, sor."

"What is it about your son? Does he need disciplining?"

Seating herself upon the edge of the proffered chair, the Irish woman
clasped her moist hands in her hip, and said, "Small doubt but he nades
dis_cip_lining, Captain: but it is of the great danger to his loife in
carryin' th' mail oi want t' spake."

"A mother's nervous fear, perhaps. He's an excellent horseman. You are
not afraid he will be thrown?

"Oh, not at ahl, at ahl, sor. He sthicks to the muel loike a bur-r-r. I
belave no buckin' baste can throw 'im. It's that roarin' river oi'm
afeared of. The min at the hay-camp, whose business it is to row the
mail acrass the strame, let Teddy and Reddy do it, do ye know, sor, and
oi fear in the prisint stage of the wather, and the dispisition of the
b'ys to be larkin' in the boat, they'll overset it, and be dhrowned."

"Are you quite sure the boys use the boat?" asked the Captain.

"Iv'ry mail-day for the last two wakes, sor."

"And you really think them in danger, Mrs. Maloney? I am sure they both
swim."

"That's jist it, sor! They're not contint to row quiately over loike
min, but they must thry all sorts of antics with th' boat. 'Rowin' aich
other round' is one of 'em. Whin oi spake about it they says they can
swim. Small chance aven a good swimmer would have in that roarin' river,
with its quicksands, its snags, and its bars."

"Well, I will order the hay-camp detail to do the boating hereafter,
Mis. Maloney; so you need have no further anxiety."

"Thank you, sor. It's no liss than oi expicted from a koindly and
considerate gintleman loike th' Captain. Oi hope you'll overlook a
mother's anxiety and worrimint over her only b'y. It's not mesilf would
be interfarin' with the commanding officer's duties, but oi knowed that
you niver mint for Reddy and Teddy to be rowin' that bit of a skift,
whin it belonged to the min at the hay-camp to do the same. Good-day,
sor, and many thanks for your kindness, Captain." And with much
cere