JULY 199 



Taking from his pocket a handful of 

 missives and a handful of coins, and 

 throwing them all on the ground, 

 "There," said he, "are your letters to 

 The Times, and your telegrams, and the 

 money that was to pay for them ! " They 

 had done their best, he went on, to hurt 

 the honour of the regiment ; they had 

 shamed themselves, their relations, and 

 their country. Then, quieting down, the 

 Officer Commanding said : " If you trust 

 me, I will be your best friend. Do you 

 wish to be left to Lord Kitchener ? Or 

 will you place yourselves unreservedly in 

 my hands ? " 



"Yes!" 



It seemed that all of them said " Yes ! " 



"Those who are willing to play the 

 game, step forward ! " 



All but nine responded. These nine, 

 it was soon afterwards found, were 

 youths who had just recently been taken 

 into the regiment; they did not yet 

 realise the gravity of the situation. 



" Will you take my award, or a court- 



