The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-12-16
From Roof to Roof.


~
a pretty little show, and almost
/ too good for the likes Of me. When !
| Joined the navy, now nearly 20 years
/ agOne, l little thought l should find
such a nice little spot TO moor in. But,
Ior, sir, it's opportunity, that's what
it isl They say you can do anything
if you only get the chance A favorite
observation Of my old dads was that
'BOnaParty would have been king Of
England If he'd only had the oPPOE-
lunity.'
Il expect you wonder how an old
shelIback like me CHATS what they
calls US in the navy came TO be berthed
fOre-and-aft in a snug little cottage
like this, with nothing in the world to
do but open the gates for the cap'n or
his lady-bless her heart!-wheneve
they drives through. But, as I said
afOre. it's Just pure luck Why, it was
worth an hours fighting to gain such
a missus as mine, not to mention the
lodge here, and the pension, OF the cop
per cross which the dear old wildly
herself pinned on my blouse.
''Of course II was the cross our queen
pinned on my breast-nOt the cottage
or the pension I dare say my talk
seems queer to a fine gentleman like
you, because I can't express my mean
in like those London chaps what sits
IN their drOrin'-rOOms and writes grand
stories of adventure for Answers and
sech like, when mebbe they've never
been further than Margit.
'sHOwsumdever. 1 reckon can spin
a warn with the best Of them, only 1t
wouldn't be dished up in such fine
dressing like, but simply plain truths,
and, If YOU care TO hear how Capt.
Grahame and me rescued they who was
10 be our future missuses from a host
Of blOOdJhirsty demons, you had bet
ter heave-tO on yOn seat and help your
self to the 'bacca, which can guaran-
tee as the genuine broad-arrOw brand,
and caIcIated to warm the cookies Of
any man what is a man.
II dare say you know more about the
ins and outs OF the Egyptian affair of
50 than 1 do. An ordinary able-bOdied
seaman don't 60 into no question Of
polytics. He leaves that to the Off
GERS. All I knew was that there was
a row on about a cove what called him
self 'AIibi Pasha,' or some SIGH Outland-
ish name. They are all 'Pashas' out IN
Egypt, excepting a few cOPPer-cOlOred
chaps who goes by the names of
'ShrieIs' and 'Cakes'-I hear our Tom
mics have been making 'em grOan bit
lateIy-just the same as everyone is a
count OF a marIziss in Italy, and kernal
in America.
AS usual, England and France was
mixed up in the scrimmage. I was
serving aboard the Thunderer at that
time, and we was stewing at Malta
when the welcome order came for US
to proceed south with all speed. We
men knOwed there was something
brewing by the eager way the officers
talked to one another. and we cOnclud-
ed II must be serious by the extra cut
lass and gun drill we had to do.
I'VE reached Alexandria in time to
take part in the COMMANDMENT; but
of course, YOU know all about that
Poor devilsI 1t warn't such fun for
US They had some very good guns,
but they were badly served. and after
the first half hour they were nearly all
silent, only just splitting occasionally
Eve stood off and knocked all their
old forts and mOskies to smithereens,
setting a good part of the town afre
before they would give in. Then, when
the signal to cease fire was flying, and
I was reckoning to enjoy a rest, be
bowed if 1 warn't ordered TO Join
short party which the admiral was
sending to put out the flames our guns
had caused.
1T warn't no joke, can tell you. 70
have to work in binding smoke pulling
down the old houses and temples, so
that the fire should not spread. special
" as some of the cOwardly riff-raff were
taking POt-shOts at US from the nar-
row streets all the time. There we was
shaving away. with the PersPira ton
dropping of US and cur parched
tongues hanging out of our mouths,
and not a blessed drop Of nothing TO
drink all the time
Presently felt some one touch my
arm. Turning. saw young Lieut.. era
hame with his face as white as chalk
that is, as far as I could see through
the smoke and dirt with which he was
grimed. Saunders saws he. come
along of me at once; that is, If you're
a man I've got permission. and there's
E 10 for you If we find her
'Ay. ay. sir says I. wondering who
we were TO find. but knowing my bet
tiers too well TO ask questions. and be
ing only too glad to get out Of that hell
of smoke and flames
The aptain-Ieastwise he was only
a lieutenant then-snatched up a bread
service cutlass. and we started at a cog
trOt into the thicker part Of the town
81 can tell you it was no biOOmin'
picnic, even at the start. The streets
were narrow and quite bewilderinE.
and the further we got from our men
the worse did it become. On every side
we saw Sowing yellow faces peeping
at Us from the windows and roofs Of the
tall houses. You see. we had not vet
occupied the place, and II was full Of ths
defeated Egyptians and worse scum,
always so plentiful in these foreign
cities Just by way Of change. every
now and then we heard the ping Of a
bullet as it few Tast our ears. and ali
the time we knew it would be Just as
easy TO force a rat out o. his hole as to
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