![]() |
![]() Read Books Online, for Free |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Blank Cartridges | Ian Hay | |
Shooting Straight |
![]() |
![]() |
Page 4 of 12 |
"Where?" "In yon place." "How would you indicate the position of the place?" "I would pint it oot with ma finger, sirr." "Invisible objects half a mile away are not easily pointed out with the finger," Captain Wagstaffe mentions. "Lance-Corporal Ness, how would you describe it?" "I would tak' you there, sirr." "Thanks! But I doubt if either of us would come back! Private Wemyss?" "I would say, sirr, that the place was west of the mansion-hoose." "There's a good deal of land west of that mansion-house, you know," expostulates the Captain gently; "but we are getting on. Thompson?" "I would say, sir," replies Thompson, puckering his brow, "that it was in ablow they trees." "It would be hard to indicate the exact trees you meant. Trees are too common. You try, Corporal King." But Corporal King, who earned his stripes by reason of physical rather than intellectual attributes, can only contribute a lame reference to "a bit hedge by yon dyke, where there's a kin' o' hole in the tairget." Wagstaffe breaks in-- "Now, everybody, take some conspicuous and unmistakable object about the middle of that landscape--something which no one can mistake. The mansion-house will do--the near end. Now then--mansion-house, near end! Got that?" There is a general chorus of assent. "Very well. I want you to imagine that the base of the mansion-house is the centre of a great clock-face. Where would twelve o'clock be?" The platoon are plainly tickled by this new round-game. They reply-- "Straught up!" "Right. Where is nine o'clock?" "Over tae the left." |
Who's On Your Reading List? Read Classic Books Online for Free at Page by Page Books.TM |
The First Hundred Thousand Ian Hay |
Home | More Books | About Us | Copyright 2005