BRITISH COLUMBIA 47 



One's partner, and where Henry went, there also 

 went the Incompetent One. Russell strongly urged 

 us to engage him. There was but little choice in 

 the matter, so after some parleying we did. 



" Try giv' 'tire sa'sfaction," murmured the sway- 

 ing figure. 



Whether it was meant as a statement or a 

 command he didn't condescend to explain. With 

 that he lurched out and we retired to rest. I had 

 dozed off, when suddenly I was awakened with a 

 start. Someone was talking outside, and through 

 the wooden planks every word was audible. 



" H'ray ! Poor young feller ! " came the voice. 

 A pause. Then it began again : " When doffed 

 his casque he felt free air." " Air ! " it repeated, 

 " wha' rhymes air ? Ri ! / know wha' rhymes air. 

 See now young Marmion wildly stare." Another 

 pause. " Poor young Marmion. Tha' doesn' soun' 

 ri'," in a puzzled tone. " Stare ! " Angrily, " that 

 doesn' soun' ri ' ! " At this point in his soliloquy I 

 heard a muffled thump ; the voice ceased, and a 

 subdued guffaw came through the wall of my room. 



" You're all right," said another voice. I thought 

 I recognised it. 



" Leggo," grunted the Incompetent One. 



" Come on," said a third voice ; " take him off." 



The victim apparently made the best of a bad 

 job here, for he broke into Tennyson and was 

 carried off. Far up the street I heard a cry of 

 " Poor young Marmion ! " Then silence. 



