"Ye are now," said the Moo Kow, "with the main guard. The first is
Bleareyed, who carries a raven in a cage, which he has stolen from
the wife of a deputy commissioner. He will paint the bird snow
white and sell it as a dove to the same lady. The second is
Otherwise, who is dragging a small garden engine, of which he has
despoiled a native gardener, whom he has felled with a single blow.
The third is Mulledwiney, swinging a cut-glass decanter of sherry
which he has just snatched from the table of his colonel.
Mulledwiney and Otherwise will play the engine upon Bleareyed, who
is suffering from heat apoplexy and djim-djams."
The three soldiers seated themselves in the pool.
"They are going to tell awful war stories now," said the Moo Kow,
"stories that are large and strong! Some people are shocked--
others like 'em."
Then he that was called Mulledwiney told a story. In the middle of
it Miaow got up from the limb of the tree, coughed slightly, and
put her paw delicately over her mouth. "You must excuse me," she
said faintly. "I am taken this way sometimes--and I have left my
salts at home. Thanks! I can get down myself!" The next moment
she had disappeared, but was heard coughing in the distance.
Mulledwiney winked at his companions and continued his story:--
"Wid that we wor in the thick av the foight.
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