One Way Round.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 81

One Way Round.

Army pets are of necessity limited itt] number by regulation ; otherwise- each regw ment would be cumbered with a menagerie. But when Tommy Atkins wants a new pet' very much, he geneially finds a way round rules, even if it imohes a little cutting of red tape.

A troopship put in it Malta Fot a few hours, and one of the sergeants went on, hore to pay a visit to a soldier son who was stationed those. When he returned he carried small woolly dog under one arm. It wwoa o an engaging young thing, but the quartermaster steeled his heart and shook his head.

"Official number of doa;= already on board," said ho uncompromisingly.

The. sergeant tried palaver, but it availed nothing, so, after looking pciplexed for at space, he re-entered the boat in which he had come off to the ship and returned to >hore. When lie came back lie carried a bad eago containing a strange looking creature. It \\3- coveted with gay feathers, but it h.ul four legs

"I 'can't jiasj that there c!or on board chip." said the sentry, and tlio quarterin nster bore out til's verdict.

"Dog. sir'" echoed the sergeant, in surprise and disgust. "Can't you tell a Maltese bird of paradise fiom a dog?"

"Fa-** Sergeant S and one Malfesa bird of paradise!" sang out the quartermaster, with a hro-id grin. "There isn't any ord?r as?a'nst taking birds on hoard as far as I know," remarked th"i >orgennt, .■>« lie came over tho side And his expression of iriu.nph did. not fade evnn when, in the course of a fow days, the fr-ather* on the '-are bird came off in tho wash. .