His well-fitting uniform, consisting of a "stable jacket" of the regulation brown duck, on which were noticeable the "Distinguished Conduct," and the "King's" and "Queen's" South African campaign ribbons, riding-breeches, boots and spurs, was thickly covered with dust, for he had ridden into the Post from his detachment which lay many weary miles to the south.
"Well," he remarked to the Orderly-room Sergeant and, with significant emphasis, "what's doin' now?"
For the most part he spoke lazily in the slipshod, drawling vernacular acquired from long residence in the West, though when occasion arose he could revert naturally and easily to the educated speech of his early upbringing.
Dudley did not reply at first but shot a warning, almost imperceptible, sidelong glance towards the crowd, enjoining silence. Obeying the other's gesture, the detachment sergeant held his peace awhile, and presently the two men, moving away from the bar, seated themselves at one of the small tables and began to talk together earnestly in low tones.
The clamor around them increased. Out broke the old barrack-room chorus "Johnny Green," which, to the tune of the "Sailor's Hornpipe" goes, as all Service men are aware:
"Oh, say, Johnny Green! did you ever see the Queen? Did you ever catch a Blue-jacket lovin' a Marine? May the Rock of Gibraltar take a runnin' jump at Malta If I ever see a nigger with a white--rum-tum."
"So _that_," concluded the Orderly-room Sergeant, "is what the old man's got you in for. Did you make a _good_ job of it?"
Benton's pale, deeply set eyes began to glow with their peculiar baleful light.
"Did I?" he echoed mirthlessly. "Well, I should smile!... An' I'll make a better one still when I go back. I'll bash that ---- till he spits blood!"
He uttered the threat in an even, passionless, unraised voice, as if it were just the merest commonplace remark. A canteen-chant held its own with steady insistence:
Three--men--in-a-boat, inaboat, Three--men--all-very-dry, Three--men--ridin'-a-Nannygoat, Go it you--! you've only one eye.
Dudley summarized briefly, in a tense undertone, the thing that Benton need not be, regarding him closely meanwhile with slightly anxious eyes. The bronzed, reckless face--naturally somber when in repose--wore a terribly ruthless expression just then.