Punch (91.1886)

July 31, 1886.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

51

UNE AFFAIRE D'HONNEUR.

tiously letting himself down into the dingy, cut her adrift. In
a few moments he was alone on the sea, watching the departing
Tornado.

" She is a fine vessel," he said to himself, musingly, as he watched
her taking up her position broadside to the enemy's ship, which was
now quite close upon her. " Ha! she is going to fire! Well, I think,
under all the circumstances, I am well out of her."

In another instant a terrific explosion gave his words a practical
interpretation. The air was dark with the scattered fragments of
smoke-stacks, hull, machinery, cargo, crew, and stores.

When it cleared, off, he noticed three figures struggling in the
water. They were the Post captain and the two Flag-lieutenants. A
few strokes brought him abreast of them, and they scrambled over
the side, and got into the boat. As they sat huddled together in the

stern, black from the effects of the explosion, and dripping, he sur-
veyed them sadly.

" You oughtn't 'to have fired, you know," he said, gently, to his
unfortunate subordinates.

"Ay, ay, your honour!" was the whining reply. "We know
now, and it's a sad story is the Story of the Guns '. "

To "Whom it may .Concern.

Fibbing of Gladstone seems an occupation
That has supreme attraction for the Tories; _

But fortune is best based on Truth's " foundation,
And stands no firmer for so many " stories.'