The First Hundred Thousand by Ian Hay
page 74 of 303 (24%)
page 74 of 303 (24%)
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"There's a [adjective] body here," replies Ogg, with gloomy sarcasm,
"flingin' bricks through this yin!" He picks up the red-and-white flag for the fourth time, and unfurls it indignantly to the breeze. "Here the officer!" says the warning voice of Hogg. "I doot he'll no allow your last yin, Peter." He is right. The subaltern in charge of targets Thirteen to Sixteen, after a pained glance at the battered countenance of Number Thirteen, pauses before Fourteen, and jots down a figure on his butt-register. "Fower, fower, fower, three, three, sirr," announces Tosh politely. "Three bulls, one inner, and an ahter, sir," proclaims the Cockney sergeant simultaneously. "Now, suppose _I_ try," suggests the subaltern gently. He examines the target, promptly disallows Tosh's last inner, and passes on. "Seventeen _only!_" remarks Private Ogg severely. "I thocht sae!" Private Cosh speaks--for the first time--removing a paste-brush, and some patching-paper from his mouth-- "Still, it's better nor a wash-oot! And onyway, you're due us tippence the noo!" By way of contrast to the frivolous game of chance in the butts, the |
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