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Updated: May 27, 2025
About an hour after the last conversation Sergeant Ripsy was giving a few final words of command to the little squad of men whom, to use his own words, he was about to plant, as if they were so many vegetables, at different points about the cantonments, in accordance with the strict military rule kept up, just as though they were in an enemy's country and it was a time of war.
That won't do; will it, Mary, my dear?" "Well, then," said Archie, "I should have called in old Sergeant Ripsy and a couple more men to hold him. Or why didn't you give him a dose of something to send him to sleep? But I know. You got tight hold of the tooth and tugged it out."
It was at the latter of these that the Sergeant, whose task was ended until the hour came for rounds, paused to say a few words to the sentry, a well-built fellow who looked as upright as the rifle he carried; and before speaking Sergeant Ripsy glanced through the clear, transparent darkness of the night to right and left, up and down what seemed to be a brilliant river of black ink, which rippled as it ran swiftly, and sparkled as if sprinkled with diamonds, from the reflections of the stars; for, strangely enough, the fire-flies, which had been so frequent amongst the overhanging vegetation, had now ceased to scintillate.
You don't mean to tell me that you wish Sergeant Ripsy would catch this nasty jungle fever?" "No, sir, I don't want to tell you; but I do." "I don't believe you, Pete. The Sergeant's a fine soldier and a brave man, and I honestly believe that he thinks he is doing his duty." "Oh, he's brave enough, I dare say. So are you, sir." "Bosh!" "So am I, sir." "Double bosh! Turkish for nothing, Pete."
Recollect where we are." "Oh, all right," grumbled Archie. "I know it's only a false alarm." "False alarm or no, the Major was half dressed before I came on here." "Oh, all right," grumbled Archie again; "I'll manage. Pete," he whispered, "try to get me a cup of coffee." "Who's that?" cried the Captain. "Sergeant, sir Ripsy," came in that non-com's deep, important voice. "Well, what's up?"
Come here. You may as well know. This is a rough scribble from Sergeant Ripsy." "Good news, sir?" burst out Archie sharply. "Not likely, my lad no. He writes of his safe arrival at what he calls the elephant-pens, and as a matter of course too late. The place is quite deserted not a man there and the elephants have all been driven off.
"Well, then, move up there; and when Sergeant Ripsy comes to relieve guard, tell him I changed your position, and that a sentry must not be posted here again on a dark night." "Thank you, sir," said the private. "It has been awful, sir." "Awful yes, my lad. Well, we are three of us now, but I don't feel at all eager to stay. However, you will be quite safe there eh, Maine?" "Oh yes.
Ripsy told me that the fellow was on fatigue-work takes advantage of the freedom of his position to sneak off to your quarters to hatch some prank or mischief or another; and I had to listen to his complaint and confound him! to answer his question, `Is it right for a subaltern to encourage a low-bred rascal like that to come to his quarters? What do you say?" "It was my fault, sir, entirely."
"Nor I, sir," said Lieutenant Durham. "You, Ripsy," cried Captain Down again "you understand these things better than we do. Did you ever witness a better advance and charge? You saw it, didn't you?" "Yes, sir," said the old Sergeant, "just as we were all out of breath and were struggling out of the jungle path." "Well, say something to the Prince, man."
I was nearly breaking out swearing! in comes to me that hang him! that overbearing bully Yah! Tut, tut, tut, tut, tut! it put me out dreadfully, and I am speaking in haste, for Ripsy is a fine, trustworthy man my best non-com to complain to me about you making a chum, a regular companion, of that confounded, low-bred cockney rascal, Pegg. Hang him!
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