Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/119



fireworks, and all the heathen joined in the mazy dance to the beating of tom-toms; there was a great feast, too, in honour of the occasion, and I taught that there po-ten-tate to play Aunt Sally, which he did in his cocked hat and swaller-tailed coat, and enjoyed it amazing.

“The next day I takes my leave of Cuffeecocoland, and with a guard of honour makes tracks for the coast and the Ring-tailed. And when I come to the Crocodile River, I tells the skipper how I’d fixed up things all friendly-like with that there po-ten-tate.”

“What did he say?” asked Charlie.

“Well, Master Charles, if you must know: ‘Ben, my lad,’ says he, ‘tip us your flipper; you've earned the gratitude of your Queen and country. Likewise,’ says he, ‘I shall recommend you for promotion in the very next letter which I sends her most gracious Majesty.’”

“And did he?” asked Charlie.

“Well,” said the ancient mariner, “he did, Master Charles, and yet he didn’t. For you see ’twas this way: the Ring-tailed was wrecked before that there letter was posted, and captain and crew was drownd-ed in the Indian Ocean, while Ben barely escaped with his life. But there, there’s them as is promoted, and then again there’s them as isn’t; but come what may, it’s right for you to do your level best without fear or favour, and so I won’t deceive you.”