e ought
to have is an all-around licking. But I've known beer to have a soothing
effect on men who'd been drinking, and it might put him to sleep and
save bother."

"Let him have it," said Stuyvesant briefly. "I'll send it in by the
steward. And, corporal, if you or any of your men would like it, I'll be
glad----"

Some two or three looked quickly and expectantly up, as though they
might like it very much, but Corporal Connelly said he "dassent," he
"never took a drink of anything on duty since three years ago come
Fourth of July." So the others were abashed and would not ask. Older
hands would not have held their tongues.

To Murray's surprise, a brimming glass of cool beer was presently
offered him. He gulped it thirstily down, and without a word held out
the glass for more. A grinning waiter obliged him with what remained in
the bottle. Murray asked if that was all, then, with something like a
grunt of dissatisfaction, rolled heavily over and turned his face to the
wall.

"Well, of all the ungrateful cads I ever seen," said Hunt, "you're the
worst! D'ye know who sent that beer, Murray? It was the young officer
you insulted." But Murray's only answer at the moment was a demand that
Hunt shut up and let him go to sleep.

The last thing Stuyvesant remembered before dozing off was that the
smell of those journal-boxes was getting worse. At two in the morning,
in the heart of the desert, the conductor had made his way through the
train and remarked that, despite that unpleasant odor, every man of the
recruit detachment was sound asleep. In a berth next the door the
steward of the dining-car had found room, and the entire car seemed
wrapped in repose.

Five minutes later by the watch, it was wrapped in flames.

Speaking of the matter later in the morning, the brakeman said it didn't
seem ten seconds after he had pulled the bell-rope and given the alarm
before Lieutenant Stuyvesant, a tall, slim figure in pajamas and
slippers, came bounding to his aid.

The flames even then were bursting from under the steps and platform,
the dense smoke pouring from the rear door of the recruit car, and
coughing, choking, blinded, staggering, some of them scorched and
blistered, most of them clad only in undershirt and drawers, the
luckless young troopers came groping forth and were bundled on into the
interior of the diner. Some in their excitement strove to leap from the
train before it came to its bumping, grinding halt. Some