much interest.

Meanwhile the chain-gang emerged from the boma gate, going full-pelt,
fastened neck to neck, the chain taut and each man carrying a
water-jar. The minute they had crossed the square Schubert commenced
with company drill, and for two hours after that, with but one interval
of less than five minutes for rest, he kept them pounding the gravel in
evolution after evolution--manual exercise at the double--skirmishing
exercise--setting up drill--goose-step, and all the mechanical,
merciless precision drill with which the Germans make machines of men.

His debauch did not seem in the least to have affected him, unless to
make his temper more violently critical. By seven o'clock the sun was
beating down on him and dazzling his eyes from over the boma wall. The
dust rose off the square. The words of command came bellowing in swift
succession from a throat that ought to have been hard put to it to
whisper. If anything, he grew more active and exacting as the askaris
wearied, and by the time the two hours were up they were ready to a man
to drop.

But not so he. He dismissed them, and swaggered over to the
marketplace to hector and bully the natives who were piling their wares
in the shade of the great grass roof. Then he went into the boma to
breakfast just as a sergeant in khaki came over and unlocked the
hospital door. I followed the sergeant in, but he ordered me out again.

"I have come to see the doctor," I said. "I need attention."

He was not one of the sergeants who had been drunk in the D.O.A.G. the
night before, but a man of a higher mental type, although no less surly.

"It will be for the doctor to say what you need when he has seen you!"
he answered, turning his back and busying himself about the room. Will
translated, and I limped out again.

By and by the doctor came, and passed me sitting on the steps amid a
throng of natives who seemed to have all the imaginable kinds of sores.
He took no notice of me, but sent out the sergeant to inquire why I
had not stood up as he passed. I did not answer, and the sergeant went
in again.

Fred by that time was simply blasphemous, alternately threatening to go
in and kick the doctor, and condemning Will's determination to do the
same thing. Finally we decided to see the matter through patiently,
and all sat together on the steps watching the activity of the square.
There was a lot going on--bartering of skins and hides--counting of
crocodil