Trapped by Malays | Page 2

notepaper."
"With writing on it, sir?"
"Of course."
"No, sir.--Oh yes, here it is, stuck in the flowers."
"Well, bring it to me."
"Can't, sir, without treading on the beds."
"Then bring it round to the door."
There was a few moments' intense silence, during which, in the tropic
heat, it seemed as if Nature was plunged in her deepest sleep. Then
came a renewal of the footsteps, a sharp tap upon the door, a loud
"Come in!" and a very closely cropped and shaven, sun-browned face
appeared, its owner clad in clean, white military flannel, drawing
himself up stiffly as he held out the missive he was bearing.
"Letter, sir."
"Well, bring it here. My arms are not telescopes."
"Pouf! No, sir. Here you are, sir." And as the letter was taken the
bearer's droll-looking, good-humoured face gradually expanded into a
broad grin, and then seemed to shut up sharply as the young officer
raised his eyes.

"Here, Pete, what were you grinning at? At me?"
"No, sir. That I warn't, sir. I never grin at you. I only do that at the
Sergeant when he aren't looking."
"You were certainly grinning, Pete."
"No, sir; only felt comfy-like."
"Oh, that's right," said the young officer; and then to himself, "It is
seven o'clock, and it is to get up his appetite, I suppose. Sharpen it on
me.--Well, Pete, what have you been up to now?"
"I d'know, sir."
"Nonsense! You must know."
"S'elp me, sir, I don't. The patient one has got his knife into me as usual.
I expected it was to be pack-drill, but I come off with a two bucket
job--water for the cook."
"Now, look here, Pete; tell the truth for once in a way. The Sergeant
wouldn't have come down upon you for nothing."
"What, sir! Oh, I say, Mr Archie, you can go it! Old tipsy Job not come
down upon a fellow for nothing! Why, I have heerd him go on at you
about your drill--"
"That will do, Pegg. Don't you forget yourself sir."
"Beg pardon, sir. I won't, sir; but there have been times when--"
"That will do."
"Yes, sir; of course, sir--when I have thought to myself if I had been a
officer and a gentleman like you--"
"I said that would do, Pegg."

"Yes, sir; I heerd you, sir--I'd have punched his fat head, sir."
"Look here, Peter Pegg; I see you have been having your hair cut
again."
"Yes, sir. It's so mortal hot, sir. I told Bob Ennery, sir, to cut it to the
bone;" and the young fellow smiled very broadly as he passed both
hands over the close crop, with an action that suggested the rubbing on
of soap.
"Then look here; next time you have it done I should advise you to have
a bit taken off the tip of your tongue. It's too long, Pete; and if I were as
strict an officer as the Major says I ought to be, I should report you for
want of respect."
"Not you, sir!"
"What!"
"Because you knows, sir, as I feels more respect for you than I do for
the whole regiment put together. I talks a bit, and I never come anigh
you, sir, without feeling slack."
"Feeling slack?"
"Yes, sir. Unbuttoned-like, and as if I was smiling all over."
"What! at your officer?"
"No, sir; not at you, sir. I can't tell you why; only I don't feel
soldier-like--drilled up and stiff as if I had been starched by one of my
comrades' wives."
"Well, you are a rum fellow, Pete."
"Yes, sir," said the man sadly. "That's what our chaps say; and Patient
Job says I am a disgrace to the regiment, that I know nothing, and that
I shall never make a soldier. But I don't care. Still, I do know one thing:
I like you, sir; and if it hadn't been for seeing you always getting into

trouble--"
"Peter Pegg!"
"Yes, sir. But I can't stop saying it, sir. If it hadn't been for you, and
seeing you always getting into trouble too--"
"Pegg!"
"Yes, sir--I should have pegged out."
"What! deserted?"
"Yes, sir. Sounds bad, don't it?"
"Disgraceful!"
"Yes, Mr Maine, sir; but ain't it disgraceful for a sergeant to be
allowed to hit a poor fellow a whack with that cane of his just because
he's a bit out in his drill?"
"Drop it, Pete."
"And 'im obliged to stand up stiff, and dursen't say a word?"
"Didn't you hear me say, `Drop it'?"
"Yes, sir--and one's blood b'iling all the while!"
"Look here; you have been having it again, then, Pete?"
"Again, sir! Why, I am always a-having of it."
"What was it, now?"
"I telled you, sir: nothing."
"That was a lie, Pete. Now, wasn't it?"

"Not a