bones
In alcohol.
Put a bottle of RUM-- (_much emphasis here_)
At my head and feet,
And then I know
My bones will keep!"

My brothers are in different regiments. We enlisted from different
states--one is in an English regiment--yet we all met on Good Friday in
this hospital ward. They had seen in the paper my name among the
casualties and, inquiring, had found out where I was and there we met,
not having seen each other for many years.

One day, like a bolt from the blue, came the intimation that I was to
be sent back to Australia in two days as being unfit for further
service. I argued the point, went before the Medical Board, and gave
each one separately a testimonial that would be no advertisement, but
it was of no avail, and I realized that like a worn-out horse I was to
be sent out of the fun. But to add injury to insult, I had had no
opportunity to see London. What! Go home to Australia and tell them I
had been in London and not seen St. Paul's, or the Abbey, or anything?
So when I realized appeal was useless I got dressed and called a
taxicab and went to see the sights of London. Never was a tourist trip
conducted more systematically. On crutches I hobbled round St. Paul's
and through the Abbey. I saw the Tower, the Albert Memorial, and all
the sights that I could remember or the taxi-driver think of sufficient
importance to need a visit. I even went down Petticoat Lane. But most
of all I did the theatres, four in one day, returning to the hospital
at 1.30 A. M. Next day I repeated and enlarged the dose, returning a
little later, but the following morning I was summoned before the O. C.
He said: "It is reported to me that you have been returning after
hours. Why?" I said: "So would you, sir, if you were returning to
Australia in two days and had not viewed London!" He said: "Well, it
won't occur again, I hope." To which I replied: "Only to-night, sir!"
But the boat was delayed, and I had two more days of strenuous
existence in the metropolis of the world.

Once again I entered a hospital-train, but this time I would have no
mussing round me as if I were a helpless child, but went upright, as a
man should, though on crutches.

When we journeyed to the port there was one of our good old Australian
coasters waiting to bear us back again--Home. The old A. U. S. N.
steamer that I had so often travelled on from Brisbane to Sydney was
now under command of the Australian navy and had