78 Pages - The Black Vault

out the under part of the trench to suit himself, andmade hisown portion of the parapet to suit his height.The parapet was about two feet six inches thick atthe top and quite steep inside, being built up ofpieces of broken ant-hill, which were nearly as hardas stone.(See Map 5.)The patrols returned shortly with their bag of a fewmen, women and children. The women indulged inmuch useless abuse, and refused to obey orders, takingthe matter less philosophically than their mankind.Here was evidently an opportunity of makinguse of the short training I had once had as an A.D.C.I tried it. I treated the ladies with tons of “tact” inmy suavest manner, and repeated the only Dutchwords of comfort I knew “Wacht een beetje’”– “Alzal rech kom’’--but to no purpose. They had not beenbrought up to appreciate tact in fact, they were nottaking any. I turned regretfully round to the coloursergeant,winked solemnly and officially, and seeingan answering but respectful quiver in his left eyelid,said--“Colour-sergeant.”.l~ir?,!“Which do you think is the best way of setting alightto a farm?”“Well, sir, some prefer the large bedstead andstraw, but I think the ‘armonium and a little kerosenein one corner is as neat as anything. ”There was no need for more. The ladies quite understoodthis sort of tact; the trouble was over,37