Griggs courier., 1898-12-15
From Roof to Roof.

. pretty utIle snow, and almost
too good for the likes Of me. When
Joined the navy, now nearly 20 years
agone, little thought I should And
such . nice little spot to moor in. But.
ior, sir. it's opportunity, that's what
itsisi They say you can do anything
e you only get the chance. A favorite
observation Of my old dad'sswas that
sRonaparty would have been king Of
England if he'd only had the oppor-
tunity.'
II 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 q 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!-whenever
they drives through. But, as said
afore, it's just pure luck. Why, it was
worth an hours fighting to gain such
q missus as mine, not to mention the
lodge here, and the pension, or the cop
per cross. which the dear old wildly
herself pinned on my blouse.
Z ''Of course it was the cross our queen
pinned on my breast-not the cottage
or the pension. !. dare say my talk
seems queer to fine gentleman like
you, because 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. fs 60
'sHowsumdever, reckon can spin
q yarn with the best of them, only it
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
to be our future missuses from host
Of bloodthirsty demons, you had bet
ter heave-to on yon seat and help your
self to the 'bacca, which can guaran-
tee rs the genuine broad-arrow brand,
and calc'lated to warm the cookies of
any man what is q man.
II dare say you know more about the
ins and outs of the Egyptian affair of
's2 than do. An ordinary able-bodied
seaman don't go into no question of
polytics. He leaves that to the Off
GERS. All I knew was that there was
row on about a cove what called him
self .Alibi Pasha,' or some sich outland-
y ish name. They are all 'Pashas' out in
Egypt, excepting few eopper-colored
chaps who goes by tie names of
'Shrieks' and 'Cakes'-I hear our Tom
mics have been making 'em groan q bit
lately-just the same US everyone is q
count or markiss in Italy, and a kernal
in America.
''As usual, England and France was
mixed up in the scrimmage. 1 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 It must be serious by the extra cut
lass and gun drill we had to do.
"We reached Alexandria in time to
take part in the bombardment; but,
Of course, you know all about that.
Poor devils! It 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.
1--WE stood off and knocked all their
old forts and moskies to smithereens,
setting a good part of the town afire
before they would give in. Then, when
the signal to cease fire was flying, and
was reckoning to enjoy a rest, be
blowed if I warn't ordered to join a
short party which the admiral was
sending to put out the flames our guns
had caused.
"It warn't no joke, can tell you, to
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-raf were
taking pot-shots at us from the mar
row streets all the time. There we was
slaving away, with the perspiration
dropping off us and our parched
tongues hanging out of our mouths,
and not blessed drop of nothing to
drink all the time.
presently felt some one touch my
arm. Turning, saw young Lieut.. Gra-
hame with his face as white as chalk
that is, as far as could see through
the smoke and dirt with which he was
grimed. Saunders says he, come
along of me at once; that is, if you re
man. I've got permission, and there's
s1O for you if we find her.
"'Ay, ay, SIR says I, wondering who
we were to find, but knowing my bet
tiers too we'll to ask questions, and be-
ing only too glad to get out of that hell
of smoke and flames.
'The captain-leastwise, he was only
a lieutenant then-snatched up broad
service cutlass, and we started at a dog
trot into the thicker part of the town.
2 81 can tell you it was no bloomin'
picnic, even at the start. The streets
were narrow and quite bewildering,
and the further we got from our men
the worse did it become. On every side
we saw scowling yellow faces peeping
ct us from thewindows and roofs of the
tall houses. Yon see. we had not yet
occupied the place. and It was full of th :
defeated Egypti1n9 and worse scum,