There  was  still  much  drink  left  on  requisition,
but  the  conquering  heroes  had  taken  everything
there  was  to  eat,  and  for  some  time   I   wandered

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Captain  Macklin

around  seeking  for  food  before  I  finally  discov-
ered Miller,  Von  Ritter,  and  Aiken  in  the  garden
of  a  private  house  enjoying  a  most  magnificent
luncheon.  I  begged  a  share  on  the  ground  that
I  had  just  overcome  two  helpless  brass  cannon,
and  they  gave  me  a  noisy  welcome,  and  made  a
place  for  me.  I  was  just  as  happy  as  I  was  hun-
gry, and  I  was  delighted  to  find  someone  with
whom  I  could  discuss  the  fight.  For  an  hour  we
sat  laughing  and  drinking,  and  each  talking  at  the
top  of  his  voice  and  all  at  the  same  time.  We
were  as  elated  as  though  we  had  captured  the
city  of  London.
Of  course  Aiken  had  taken  no  part  in  the
fight,  and  of  course  he  made  light  of  it,  which
was  just  the  sort  of  thing  he  would  do,  and  he
especially  poked  fun  at  me  and  at  my  charge  on
the  barracks.  He  called  it  a  "  grand-stand  play,'*
and  said  I  was  a  "  gallery  fighter."  He  said  the
reason  I  ran  out  into  the  centre  of  the  plaza  was
because  I  knew  there  was  a  number  of  women
looking  out  of  the  windows,  and  he  pretended  to
believe  that  when  we  entered  the  barracks  they
were  empty,  and  that  I  knew  they  were  when  I
ordered  the  charge.
"It  was  the  coflTee  they  were  after,"  he  de-
clared. "  As  soon  as  Macklin  smelt  the  coffee  he
drew  his  big  gilt  sword  and  cried,  '  Up,  my  men,

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Captain  Macklin


inside  yon  fortress  a  free  breakfast  awaits  us.
