The signaller “on duty”—­one M’Gurk—­was extracted from the heap and put under arrest for sleeping at his post.  The enormity of his crime was heightened by the fact that two undelivered messages were found upon his person.

Divers pains and penalties followed.  Bobby supplemented the sentence with a homily on the importance of vigilance and despatch.  M’Gurk, deeply aggrieved at forfeiting seven days’ pay, said nothing, but bided his time.  Two nights later the Battalion came out of trenches for a week’s rest, and Bobby, weary and thankful, retired to bed in his hut at 9 P.M., in comfortable anticipation of a full night’s repose.

His anticipations were doomed to disappointment.  He was roused from slumber—­not without difficulty—­by Signaller M’Gurk, who appeared standing by his bedside with a guttering candle-end in one hand and a pink despatch-form in the other.  The message said:—­

“Prevailing wind for next twenty-four hours probably S.W., with some rain.”

Mindful of his own recent admonitions, Bobby thanked M’Gurk politely, and went to sleep again.

M’Gurk called again at half-past two in the morning, with another message, which announced:—­

“Baths will be available for your Company from 2 to 3 P.M. to-morrow.”

Bobby stuffed the missive under his air-pillow, and rolled over without a word.  M’Gurk withdrew, leaving the door of the hut open.

His next visit was about four o’clock.  This time the message said:—­

“A Zeppelin is reported to have passed over Dunkirk at 5 P.M. yesterday afternoon, proceeding in a northerly direction.”

Bobby informed M’Gurk that he was a fool and a dotard, and cast him forth.

M’Gurk returned at five-thirty, bearing written evidence that the Zeppelin had been traced as far as Ostend.

This time his Company Commander promised him that if he appeared again that night he would be awarded fourteen days’ Field Punishment Number One.

The result was that upon sitting down to breakfast at nine next morning, Bobby found upon his plate yet another message—­from his Commanding Officer—­summoning him to the Orderly-room on urgent matters at eight-thirty.

But Bobby scored the final and winning trick.  Sending for M’Gurk and Sergeant M’Micking, he said:—­

“This man, Sergeant, appears to be unable to decide when a message is urgent and when it is not.  In future, whenever M’Gurk is on night duty, and is in doubt as to whether a message should be delivered at once or put aside till morning, he will come to you and ask for your guidance in the matter.  Do you understand?”

“Perrfectly, sirr!” replied the Sergeant, outwardly calm.

“M’Gurk, do you understand?”

M’Gurk looked at Bobby, and then round at Sergeant M’Micking.  He received a glance which shrivelled his marrow.  The game was up.  He grinned sheepishly, and answered,—­