TOLD AFTER MESS 341 



" ' Not for worlds, sir/ I replied hastily, ' that is 

 all arranged for. But if you will really be so good 

 as to take me to Mrs cle Boots' carriage, and if she 

 would not mind my entering it in this very muddy 

 condition ? ' 



" ' Delighted ; come along with me ! ' We walked 

 off, and the situation was saved. 



" Only temporarily, though. I blandly received 

 Colonel and Mrs de Boots' condolences on the loss 

 of my horse all the way home to Barracks, and I 

 heard afterwards that they thought I ' took it in 

 very good part.' The moment I was released from 

 their carriage, after thanking them warmly for pick- 

 ing me up as they had done, I took to my heels and 

 ran down to Major Laughton's quarters. 



" ' Here's a pretty mess, my boy ! ' he exclaimed ; 

 1 there'll have to be a Board to " sit on " the de- 

 parted, to-morrow, and report in what way he came 

 to his " frightful end," as the newspaper Johnnies 

 call it. Which is his " frightful end," by the way ? ' 

 he added in meditative tones. 



" ' Give it up ; ask me another/ I rejoined, with 

 a grin. ' But, seriously, will there be an awful row 

 when it comes out that we were hunting one of Her 

 Majesty's ? ' 



" ' Well, naturally, a Paternal Government doesn't 

 provide hunters for " all and sundry." Come along 



