The other fellow was cheerful enough, and only set his teeth and drew
his breath when I cut off his boot with a jack-knife. Wonderful
endurance some of these young fellows have. There's hope for England
yet.




CHAPTER XV


KANGAROO BEACH


"COMMUNICATIONS"

The native only needs a drum,
On which to thump his dusky thumb--

But WE--the Royal Engineers,
Must needs have carts and pontoon-piers;
Hundreds of miles of copper-wire,
Fitted on poles to make it higher.
Hundreds of sappers lay it down,
And stick the poles up like a town.
By a wonderful system of dashes and dots,
Safe from the Turkish sniper's shots--
We have, as you see, a marvellous trick,
Of sending messages double-quick.
You can't deny it's a great erection,