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Nor was this heathenish rapacity confined to the common soldier; the commanders and subalterns participated with acquisitive eagerness, sharing fully with their commands the hellish instincts of their race.
Now, I ask you, have the subalterns an excuse, or have they not, for a rough-house this night? It's their last night aboard, for to-morrow morning the smaller boats will come and carry them to the deadly Peninsula: and it's the evening that has brought the news of the Suvla landing.
I remember one very exciting run home. We started rather late from town. There was a thick fog. The driver was inclined to be cautious, very properly; but it was doubtful whether we could reach the camp in time. I had found a precarious place on the step of the driver's platform. Three subalterns, spirited boys, fresh from school, tried to speed things up by shouting, "Vîte, Vîte!"
The soldiery not only accepted the challenge of the mob, but assumed the offensive. Here and there they were seen crossing the street to puff obnoxiously in the faces of people. Numerous subalterns were abroad, lively for strife, and bright with the signal of their readiness.
Esmonde, brother of the Wexford baronet, who, being betrayed by one of his own subalterns, was the next morning arrested at breakfast in the neighbourhood, and suffered death at Dublin on the 14th of the following month.
So she commanded the commodore of ten men of war, who lay ready in the port to sail as occasion required, to prepare to put to sea, for that she would embark herself next morning as soon as it was day. The commodore ordered the captains and subalterns, seamen and soldiers, on board, and was ready to sail at the time appointed.
Field officers have no need to employ the language of diplomacy when dealing with subalterns. "No, you don't, my lad!" announces the Major. "Not if I can help it! Take it away! Take your darned liver-pill out of this! Burn, it! Bury it! Eat it! But not here! Creep away!" The abashed procession complies. This time they find a section of trench in charge of a mere corporal.
It was the rushing of the camps over again. Let their officers go to Hell, if they chose; they would get away from the knives. "Come on!" shrieked the subalterns, and their men, cursing them, drew back, each closing in to his neighbour and wheeling round. Charteris and Devlin, subalterns of the last company, faced their death alone in the belief that their men would follow.
He saw that the lad a little resented the joking tone in which he had asked the question. "I have no doubt that you are right," he said, "and I am quite sure I should like half a dozen of you as subalterns. When did you come from Johannesburg?" "We left there about a week ago, and as we were only at Maritzburg three days, we have not lost any time." "Indeed, I think that is a record performance.
"But I'm done arguing. Pull off those deputies." Sheriff Niles appeared at that moment. He had left his subalterns to store the confiscated liquors. "Niles, pull your men off the door, here," commanded the Duke. "Your county politics hasn't any business at our caucus here to-day." "I've been asked to keep this caucus regular, and I'm going to do it," insisted the sheriff.
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