Thank God, honoured sir, I've kept my health and strength wonderful, and am therefore more able to look after master.
When we reach Loango I shall ask Miss Gordon kindly to write to you, sir, seeing as I have no great facility with my pen .-- I am, honoured sir, your respectful servant to command, "JOSEPH ATKINSON, "Late Corporal 217th Regt." There were one or two round splashes on the paper suggestive, perhaps, of tears, but not indicative of those useless tributes.

The truth was that it was a hot evening, and Joseph had, as he confessed, but little facility with the pen.
"There," said the scribe, with a smile of intense satisfaction.

"That will give the old 'un beans.

Not that I don't respect him--oh no." He paused, and gazed thoughtfully at the evening star.
"Strange thing--life," he muttered, "uncommon strange.

Perhaps the old 'un is right; there's no knowin'.