nge about Bones?" asked Patricia Hamilton
the next day.

Her brother looked at her over his newspaper. "The strangest thing about
Bones is Bones," he said, "and that I am compelled to notice every day
of my life."

She looked up at Sanders, who was idly pacing the stoep of the
Residency. "Have you, Mr. Sanders?"

Sanders paused. "Beyond the fact that he is rather preoccupied and
stares at one----"

"That is it," said the girl. "I knew I was right--he stares horribly. He
has been doing it for a week--just staring. Do you think he is ill?"

"He has been moping in his hut for the past week," said Hamilton
thoughtfully, "but I was hoping that it meant that he was swotting for
his exam. But staring--I seem to remember----"

The subject of the discussion made his appearance at the far end of the
square at that moment, and they watched him. First he walked slowly
towards the Houssa sentry, who shouldered his arms in salute. Bones
halted before the soldier and stared at him. Somehow, the watchers on
the stoep knew that he was staring--there was something so fixed, so
tense in his attitude. Then, without warning, the sentry's hand passed
across his body, and the rifle came down to the "present."

"What on earth is he doing?" demanded the outraged Hamilton, for
sentries do not present arms to subaltern officers.

Bones passed on. He stopped before one of the huts in the married lines,
and stared at the wife of Sergeant Abiboo. He stared long and earnestly,
and the woman, giggling uncomfortably, stared back. Then she began to
dance.

"For Heaven's sake----" gasped Sanders, as Bones passed on.

"Bones!" roared Hamilton.

Bones turned first his head, then his body towards the Residency, and
made his slow way towards the group.

"What is happening?" asked Hamilton.

The face of Bones was flushed; there was triumph in his eye--triumph
which his pose of nonchalance could not wholly conceal. "What is
happening, dear old officer?" he asked innocently, and stared.

"What the dickens are you goggling at?" demanded Hamilton irritably.
"And please explain why you told the sentry to present arms to you."

"I didn't tell him, dear old sir and superior captain," said Bones. His
eyes never left Hamilton's; he stared with a fierceness and with an
intensity that was little short of ferocious.

"Confound you, what are you staring at? Aren't you well?" demanded
Hamilton wrathfully.

Bones blinked. "Quite well, sir and comrade,"