No More Learning

"Oh, but he's still unimpressed. There he goes! " said the subaltern, as
a bullet struck the outside of the truck. "We always have at least
one demonstration against the night-train. Generally they attack the
rear-truck, where my junior commands. He gets all the fun of the fair. "

"Not tonight though! Listen! " said Dick. A flight of heavy-handed
bullets was succeeded by yelling and shouts. The children of the desert
valued their nightly amusement, and the train was an excellent mark.

"Is it worth giving them half a hopper full? " the subaltern asked of the
engine, which was driven by a Lieutenant of Sappers.

"I should think so! This is my section of the line.
They'll be playing
old Harry with my permanent way if we don't stop 'em. "

"Right O! "

"Hrrmph! " said the machine gun through all its five noses as the
subaltern drew the lever home. The empty cartridges clashed on the floor
and the smoke blew back through the truck. There was indiscriminate
firing at the rear of the train, and return fire from the darkness
without and unlimited howling. Dick stretched himself on the floor, wild
with delight at the sounds and the smells.

"God is very good--I never thought I'd hear this again. Give 'em hell,
men. Oh, give 'em hell! " he cried.

The train stopped for some obstruction on the line ahead and a party
went out to reconnoitre, but came back, cursing, for spades. The
children of the desert had piled sand and gravel on the rails, and
twenty minutes were lost in clearing it away. Then the slow progress
recommenced, to be varied with more shots, more shoutings, the steady
clack and kick of the machine guns, and a final difficulty with a
half-lifted rail ere the train came under the protection of the roaring
camp at Tanai-el-Hassan.

"Now, you see why it takes an hour and a half to fetch her through,"
said the subaltern, unshipping the cartridge-hopper above his pet gun.

"It was a lark, though.