e it. And
now poor Gubbins had more to learn! It may seem very easy to turn a
crank, to pump, to shoulder a box, to help carry a bale, or to push at a
capstan bar, and this certainly is not skilled labour. Yet there is a
way of doing each of these things in a painful, laborious, knuckle-
cutting, shoulder-bruising, toe-smashing manner, and a comparatively
easy and comfortable one.

And James Gubbins invariably did the worst for himself possible. I do
wish that a special artist had seen him trying to help sling a mule on
one occasion, and endeavouring to take a similar animal to the place
appointed on shore for it on another. Words can do no justice to those
scenes.

Another adventure, however, I will try to describe. A naval officer
engaged in transport came up to Tom Strachan, who was in charge of half
his company on fatigue duty, and said--

"Look here, do you see that steamer with a green funnel? Well, there
are stores on board, for your regiment mostly. A whole lot of shells
have to be landed this afternoon, and all my men are at work at that. I
wish you would take that lighter, and let your fellows go off to the
steamer and unload it. We should bring you the stores, as a rule, for
you to carry up from the jetty, only we are short-handed."

"All right," said Tom.

The lighter was propelled by large oars, or sweeps, and James Gubbins
found there was yet another trial for him in this weary world--that of
endeavouring to row with one of these things. But he was so clumsy, and
impeded the others to such an extent, that they pushed him on one side
and told him to keep quiet.

When they got alongside, a rope was thrown up and caught by a sailor on
deck, and Strachan went up a rope ladder to see exactly what had to be
done. The stores were as yet in the hold, and the first job would be to
hoist them out of it; so the lighter would not be wanted alongside for
some time. The sailors let it drop astern, and then made it fast.

"Now then, men, you are wanted on deck; look alive!" cried Strachan.

The sergeant in the lighter looked puzzled how to get on board for a
moment; but seeing a grin on a sailor's face, and at the same time
observing a rope hanging from the taffrail close to him, he seized,
pulled at it, and finding it firm at the top end, swarmed up it
presently. It was not far to go, or a difficult operation, so the
others followed.

Then they manned the crane, by which a chain with a big hook