66 



guns steadily. It was the same last Monday, 

 when I saw him for the first time after our two 

 most recent misfortunes, that of the M odder and 

 the Tugela. 



"This is bad news, Cuttle," I said, as we met 

 outside the greenhouse. 



" Well ma'am, they do try to make it out to be 

 baddish, but I wouldn't believe it, if I was you." 



" But it is in all the papers, Cuttle." 



"Very likely it is ma'am, but what of that? 

 I don't hold with none of those papers. They 

 must be a-stuffing themselves out with some- 

 thing." 



" But I'm afraid the generals admit it them- 

 selves." 



" Excuse me ma'am, but that's just where 

 you're making a great mistake. We don't know 

 nothing about what the generals admit. All 

 we know is that the papers say they admit it, 

 which is a very different story. Mark my words, 

 you'll find that it'll turn out to be some of their 

 muddlings. Just you mark my words for it, 

 that's how it is." 



I said meekly " I hope so, Cuttle," and walked 

 away, for really I had not the heart to try and 

 shake his incredulity. Not that I imagine I 

 could have done so had I tried. That good, 

 homespun garment of British pride in which 

 he had wrapped himself was proof against 

 any assaults that I could have brought to bear 



