VARIOUS. 67 



cock, and while playing with the locks would wave the 

 muzzle around at the company generally. 



At last I remonstrated : " Look here, old fellow, I 

 don't particularly wish to see down the barrels of your 

 rifle, so if you would kindly refrain from carrying it 

 aimed at my brains, I should be much obliged". He 

 apologised, blushed, and timidly directed the muzzle at 

 the pit of my stomach. 



" No, no ; carry it at the slope, so that the muzzle is 

 always in the air, and don't you think you had better let 

 the hammers down to half cock ? " 



He essayed to do this, but in his confusion placed the 

 thumb on the right hammer and the finger on the left 

 trigger, and let it off, at the same time dropping the 

 weapon and gazing at me with a sort of expression as 

 though to say, " Dear me, how very extraordinary ! " 

 I know it is wrong to be angry with one's brother 

 without a cause ; but really this was very trying, and my 

 oratory was equal to the occasion. 



He would speak when silence was required. If there 

 was a hole anywhere he was sure to tumble into it, and 

 the way in which he trod upon dry sticks and cracked 

 them would have annoyed a saint. I began to think 

 that if we had any dangerous work to do, he would be 

 an encumbrance rather than an aid, so I put on the 

 steam and travelled at a great rate in the hopes of tiring 

 him out. Notwithstanding my remonstrances he would 

 keep on drinking too much water, and soon began to 

 feel the effects. At last he said, " When are you going 

 to halt for luncheon ? " 



" Not until we have done some killing," I replied. 



" Well then, I think I shall work my way slowly back 

 to camp, for I am feeling hungry and tired." 



