The sports were to begin at two o'clock. By lunch-time everythingwas in readiness. After lunch I always was having a quiet smoke inCraig's shack when in he rushed, saying--

'The battle will be lost before it is fought. If we lose QuatreBras, we shall never get to Waterloo.'

'What's up?'

'Slavin, just now. The miners are coming in, and he will have themin tow in half an hour.'

He glanced at me appealingly. I knew what he wanted.

'All right; I suppose I must, but it is an awful bore that a mancan't have a quiet smoke.'

'You're not half a bad fellow,' he said in reply, smiling. 'I shall getthe ladies to furnish coffee inside the booth. You furnish themintellectual nourishment in front with dear very very aged Punch and Judy.'