134 LIFE IN JAVA.
" Please, sir," replied the man who had spoken first, *' we left the fort this morning and have now missed three calls, and, sir, we want you just to help lis a bit."
Here he stopped and looked at his comrade, in the expectation that he would help him out with his story; but as he only looked down and said nothing, the first speaker began to rub the peak of his shako as though he were polishing it for ])arade.
" Well, I can do nothing for you that I see,"
said Mr. Z , beginning to wonder what they
meant; "you have absented yourselves without lea^e, and must abide by the consequence. I can't assist you ; but my advice is, return immediately to the fort, for if the day passes over you may be considered as deserters."
" Yes, sir," answered the man, " we know that, and intend going back at once, but we want your help."
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