days. It was after our short war with Turkey. We Greeks got
beaten, but the Turks did not get all the loot! By prison and gallows,
no! When our men ran before a battle, I did not run--not I! I
remained, and by Croesus I grew richer in an hour than I have ever been
since!"

"That's two countries," said I. "Which is the third that has the honor
to claim your allegiance?"

"Honor is right!" he answered with a proud smile. "I, Georges Coutlass,
have honored three flags! I am a credit to all three countries! The
third is America--the U. S. A. You might say that is the corollary of
being English--the natural, logical, correct sequence! The U. S. laws
are strict, but their politics were devised for--what is it the
preachers call it--ah, yes, for straining out gnats and swallowing
camels. By George Washington they would swallow a house on fire!
There was a federal election shortly due. One of the
parties--Democratic--Republican--I forget which--maybe both!--needed
new voters. The law says it takes five years to become a citizen.
Politics said fifteen minutes! The politicians paid the fees too! I
was a citizen--a voter--an elector of presidents before I had been
ashore three months, and I had sold my vote three times over within a
month of that! They had me registered under three names in three
separate wards! I didn't need the money--I had plenty in those days--I
gave the six dollars I received for my votes to the Holy Church, and
voted the other way to save my conscience; but the fun of the thing
appealed! By Gassharamminy! I can't take life the way the copy-books
lay down! I have to break laws or else break heads! But I love
America! I fought and bled for America! By Abraham Lincoln, I fought
those Spaniards until I don't doubt they wished I had stayed in Greece!
Yes, I left that middle finger in Cuba--shot through the left hand by
a Don, think of it, a Don! When I came out of hospital--and I never
saw anything worse than that hot hell!--I got myself attached to the
commissariat, and the pickings were none so bad. Had to hand over too
much, though. That is the worst of America, there is no genuine
liberty. You have to steal for the man higher up. If you keep more
than ten per cent., he squeals. He has to pass most of it on again to
some one else, and so on, and they all land in jail in course of time!
Give me a country where a man can keep what he finds! There was talk
about congressional inq