turned," others had their soles flapping as they marched.

My "batman," who cleaned my boots and swept out the bunk, had his
trousers held together with a huge safety-pin. The people called us
"Kitchener's Rag-time Army." We became so torn, and worn, and ragged,
that it was impossible to go out in the town. Being the only one in
scout rig-out I drew much attention.

"'Ere 'e comes, Moik-ell!"

"Kitchener's cowboy! Isn't he lovely!"

"Bejazus! so-it-is!"

"Come an' see Path-rick--Kitchener's cowboy!--by-the-holy-sufferin'-
jazus!"

I found an old curio-shop down near the docks, and here I used to
rummage among the gilded Siamese idols, and the painted African gods
and drums. I discovered some odd parts of A Thousand-and-One Arabian
Nights, which I bought for a penny or two, and took back to my
barrack-room to read. By this means I forgot the gray square, and the
gray line of the barracks outside, and the bare boards and yellow-
washed walls within.

I used to practise "slipping" the guard at the guard-room gate. This
form of amusement became quite exciting, and I was never caught at it.

Next I got a very old and worn copy of the Koran.